ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 531, 21 February 1901, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

CYCLOS.

IB:

KARANGAHAKE CYCLING SPORTS The second annual meeting under the auspices of the Karangahake Cycling Club was held at Mackaytown on Saturday last, and was a great success, the attendance being fully seven hundred. The weather was perfect. The finishes were close and exciting, and a good day’s sport was obtained. The committee ran the events well up to time, and the Secretary (Mr Scanlon) proved the right man in the right place. The following were the results :— Maiden Bicycle Handicap, one mile (amateur). —E. Hart 1, R. S. Noonan 2, T. Hogg 3. Time, 2min 42 4-ssec. Maiden Flat, 100yds.—F. Hawkin 1, J. Brown 2, S. Ure 3. Time, 11 2-ssec. Mackaytown Bicycle Handicap, one mile (cash). —S. Draffin I, W. J. Irwin 2, W. Tressider 3. Time, 2min 31 2 ssec. President’s Bicycle Handicap one mile and a half (amateur). —First heat: E. J. Hart 1, Ji. S. Noonan and F. Corder (dead heat) 2, F. Johnston 3. Time, 4tuin 1 2-ssec. Second heat : C. Geraghty 1, C. Rockley 2, T. J. Flett 3. Time, 4min l-ssec. Huidle Handicap, 120yds.—M. Davis 1, F. Gerrard 2, J. T. Brown 3. Time, 17 4-ssec. Final Heat of President’s Handicap.— F. Cooper 1, E. J. Hart 2, T. J. Flett 3. Time, 3min 59 l-ssec. Karangahake Wheel Race Handicap (cash), two miles. —S. Draffin 1, R. H. Davis 2, W. J. Irwin 3. Time, smin 29 ,2-ssec. Club Cup Handicap, three miles (amateur). —F. Cordes 1, R. S. Noonan 2, F. Hanlon 3. Time, Bmin 56sec. Half-mile Flat.—F. Bradley 1, J. Brown 2. Time, 2min Bsec. 150 Yards Handicap (amateur). —W. McLean 1, R. Noonan 2, G. A. Bush 3. Time, 15 4-ssec. Half - mile Handicap (cash). — W. Draffin 1, W. J. Irwin 2, T. Beaver 3. Time, Imin 1 2-ssec. Ladies’ Bracelet Bicycle Handicap (amateur). —First heat: T. Johnston 1, T. Hogg 2, W. Hendry 3. Time, 2min 34sec. Second heat: F. G. Hayward 1, A. Green 2, E. J. Hart 3. Time, 2mih 38 l-ssec. Final of Ladies’ Bracelet.—T. Johnston 1, T. Hogg 2, E. J. Hart 3. Time, 2min 29 l-ssec. A protest in this race was entered by Hogg for inconsistent riding of Johnston, but was not decided on the ground.

The Dunlop Tire Company announce that in connection with the second-grade tire, which is about to be placed on the market, they have selected a name from the 15,000 odd sent in, and for which the sum of £2O was offered to the successful nominator. It so happens that the name chosen was sent in by two different persons, and received and posted up on the same date. One hails from New South Wales, and the other from New Zealand, and the company state that, according to the conditions, the winners divide the prize, and a cheque for £lO will be sent to each. The winning name, and names

of the prize-winners, will not be made public till next week, as the company is registering the name and trade mark throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand.

Before starting on a spin all pumping and oiling that is requisite should be done, and this renders it unnecessary to touch the machine on the road, except in cases of accidents. There is much less risk of grit getting into the valves if the tires are pumped at home, where, also, a Tnnch more powerful inflator can. be used in place of the usually small and light one carried on the machine, which, really, is only for emergencies. A little care should be exercised in removing any dust that may have accumulated around either the valves or lubricators, while time is well spent in looking to the tension of the chain, the bolts and nuts, and the running of the wheels, which latter should not only revolve freely, but should run true in the forks, and be in correct line in the frame.

The “ Australasian” says : “ Another portion of the cycle path between Mordialloc, and Frankston, is shortly to be put down, for I learn that tenders are invited for the construction of a new section on that stretch. The specifications are to be seen at the Bridge Hotel, Mordialloc, the Pier Hotel, Frankston, and at the Melbourne B.C. rooms, 243 Collinsstreet.

Mr C. H. Cotton, one of the founders Of cash cycling in New Zealand, and for many years one of the ablest workers the League posessed, has been transfered to Adelaide, and will take his departure from Christchurch at the end of the present month. While regretting his departure, his many friends here will be glad to learn that the change is one that •will materially benefit Mr Cotton. Waving, by exceptional, ability and energy, worked his way. up from Minor positions in the Mutual Life Assurance Association of Australasia to the responsible one of superintendent of Canterbury for that company —being the youngest holder of such a position in the colonies —he has fulfilled his duties so satisfactorily that the position of manager for South Australia was recently offered to him, and has been accepted. It is hardly necessary to add that the occasion has been made cne for numerous congratulations, Mr Cotton being extremely popular, both in business and private circles in the town. Though indifferent health —now, I am glad to say, completely restored— coupled with the prospects of

the removal that has since been about, caused him to resign from the League Council some months ago, those acquainted with cycling matters in the colony cannot overlook the sterling work that, in the past, has been accomplished for sport’s sake by Mr Cotton. A shrewd thinker, fluent speaker and a clever debater, he was of invaluable assistance to any cause that he espoused, whilst his unvarying courtesy and rare fund of bonhomie have ensured for him the respect and friendship of all who know him* I echo the wishes of these when I wish Mr Cotton continued success in his new sphere. At the last meeting of the North Canterbury Centre, Mr Batchelor suggested that che Centre should frame a rule by which sports promoters would be compelled to send a copy of their programmes to the Centre as soon as they were printed and not wait until a few days before the race meeting, and after they had been circulated. He said that a good deal of inconvenience was frequently caused to the Athletic Association, which frequently received applications for permits but a few days before race meetings. The Chairman said there was no necessity for the Centre to frame such a rule as evil had not shown itself in cycling matters in the North Canterbury district. Invariably, the applications for permits came to hand in ample time for the Centre to consider them. At the same time, he agreed that it was a mistake on the part of sports promoters to have their programmes circulated before they had been submitted to the Centre. The Council’s rule stipulated that applications for permits must come in at least seven days before a race meeting, and the Centre could scarcely take upon itself to increase the time limit.

Sympathy with Jack Green, the wellknown English rider who was injured on the St Hilda track early in the season, has taken the usual practical shape favoured by those who love the wheel, and a sum of £lOO is now in hand for the veteran. This has been subscribed mainly by the trade and the racing cyclists.

The great success which has attended the lighting of the Sydney Cricket Ground by acetylene gas has induced the trustees of the St Hilda grounds (Melbourne) to consider the advisability of lighting the track by the same means. The “Scientific American” (Ist December, 1900) gives an interesting description of a liquid air automobile, which is now being shown and used in New York. It is claimed that the car, which is built on the same lines as petroldriven cars, can be used at the cost of three-halfpence per mile, and that sufficient liqued air can be carried to run the car for fifty miles. “Bill” Martin, the American crack, in conversation with a Sydney representative of the “ Bulletin ” said—- “ Since I’ve been in Australia I’ve been run into iron fences and iron rails; I’ve been knocked clean off the track and had my head buried in street-sweepings; I’ve had my spokes torn out and my pedals shifted; I’ve been upset right in front of the judge’s stand; I’ve been run over and had six gashes in my head from fellows’ pedals; I’ve had them charge into me, and had my muscles torn away and my back broken; but, all the same, I like this country, and I’m fixed here now, and I’ll never leave here unless I’ve to walk out.”