ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 543, 16 May 1901, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

I BY

Cyclos.

A. E. Walters, the crack long-distance racing cyclist of England, has decided to retire from the track. Whlters has won fame in almost every capital of Europe, but his principal successes were gained in France and England. The most import tant record at present standing to his credit is the 24 hours’ French race —the 80l D’or. He rode the stupendous distance of 634 miles 723 yards in the 24 hours — world’s record. This early retirement of Walters from the racing path is to be regretted, fer he was considered the finest long-distance rider of the day. A Cyclists’ Bill has been introduced into the British Parliament by Sir Howard Vincent, Mr Herbert Gladstone, Sir Albert Rollit, and Major EvansGordon, which, if it passes, will be a useful measure. It provides that railway companies shall afford all reasonable facilities, shall carry a cycle in the same train as the owner is travelling by, shall issue cycle tickets at the same booking office and time as the traveller has to take his passenger ticket; connecting companies shall issue through cycle tickets, and companies shall be liable for damage. At a meeting of the council of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen, the application of H. Amos to have his record of 31 4-sth sec for a standing start for the Quarter Mile, Timaru, on March 18th, recognised as a New Zealand record was granted. The chairman, Mr W. G; Atack, brought up the question of the Government being asked to subsidise cycling and athletic sports in the holding ‘ of their championship meetings. He said it was now generally recognised that such sports materially assisted in building up the country, and consequently deserved encouragement. At the present time the public refused to patronise sports gatherings to the extent necessary to make them financially successful, and unless some outside assistance was obtained there was a danger of their falling back. The sum of £ 150 would provide all that was necessary to assist the championship meetings of all Christchurch sports bodies that held them. It was decided to approach the " Government on the matter. An article of special interest to cyclists appears in this month’s “ New Zealand Illustrated Magazine,” under the heading of “ Cycle Paths,” by Mr P. A. Vaile, the well-known advocate for good roads, and author of the Cycle Board’s Bill. George Morgan, who has retired from the track this season, has won £320 in stakes. A novel system of motor pacing is, it is announced, about to be adopted at the Friedenau cycle racing track in Berlin. A number of electric motor tandem bicycles are being acquired, but instead of the necessary electrical energy being supplied by accumulators carried on the machines, this will be taken from an overhead conductor, the same as used in connection with electric tramways, which is h»ing erected round the track. The scheme is said to be due to Messrs

Siemens and Halske, the large electrical engineers. Last month the British War Office issued a special army order, authorising the immediate formation of eight cyclist companies, of 120 men each, for service in South Africa. Tnis latest movement of the ‘War Office is credited to Lord Roberts.

At a special meeting, says the “Town and Country Journal,” of the council of the New South Wales Cyclists’ Union, it was unanimously decided to expunge the B, or professional class from the rules, and the Union now becomes a purely amateur body, as was intended originally. The B class rule was inserted some years ago, but has never been put in force. As a matter of actual fact, the Union has always been a purely amateur body,_ and the rule in question was not only inopportune, but also mischievous, as it gave outsiders a wrong impression of the Union. It is impossible to govern amateurs and professionals under the same set of rules, though of course there are exceptions, which will probably only prove temporary. The I.C.A. endeavoured to govern professional. sport from an amateur point of view, and the inevitable result was a revolt of the professionals. The League of American Wheelmen had restricted itself to purely social and amateur concerns, whilst a new body undertook the management of the professional and money-making business. The Victorian League is endeavouring to govern the two classes, but it is harassed by dissatisfaction on both sides. The New Zealand League, which is now trying the experiment, is the most likely of any to be successful, and its career will be watched with interest. The New South Wales League adopted an amateur class as a counterbalance to the Cyclists’ Union B class, but it has never been recognised by any amateur bodies, or even by other leagues, and the members of that class have never risen above a very mediocre standard.

Amongst the passengers by the mail steamer Sonoma who passed through Auckland on Monday last were Messrs R. H. Walne J. Green, and Chapman, three cyclists of more than ordinary note They are bound for America. The “ Sydney Referee ” says : —“ The departure of R. H. Walne, who not long since was Australia’s undoubted cycling champion, for America, is an event of more than ordinary interest in athletic circles. Zimmerman, Martin, Lawson, and others have come to challenge us on our own ground with more or less individual success, and this is returning the compliment. Though professional riders have visited England and the Continent, this is only the second time that an Australian first-class cyclist has undertaken the trip to America (Lambton represented, the amateurs in the old days, as did Goodson at the World’s Championship in Canada and afterwards in the States). It was more than up to one of our professionals to challenge Uncle Sam, for our rowers and boxers have long done so. Now as to Walne’s prospects of success. They ought to be pretty good, for, on his best form, he was not much inferior to the; best anywhere. Certainly Martin, the American, has scooped the pool here this season, and Lawson also beat our men more than once, but Walne at no time showed his old form, and had evidently not shaken off the effects of a serious

illness. The trip he is taking ought to be the very thing to set him up again, as he is yet in his prime as regards age, and he only wants his old brilliancy to astonish even the flyers of the States. Form is a somewhat elusive thing, and he Jmay not get it back, but the trip should be of great advantage to him in many ways. The ‘ Referee,’ which was the first journal to bring him into prominence when he came from Queensland, wishes him every luck. He is accompanied by that old stager and good rider, ‘Jock’ Green, who, as an experienced traveller, will be able to teach him points. Possibly he may go with Green to England and the Continent.

Very little has been heard during the past season of W. C. (“Newhaven”) Jackson, who proved himself Australia’s best rider last year. Jackson’s football accident was unfortunate for him, and meant at least £5OO out of his pocket through his enforced retirement from this season’s racing. A few years ago road-racing was a great feature of the sport in Melbourne, but it has now almost died out altogether. In Sydney and Brisbane, however, road racing is in full swing, and during the season hardly . a Saturday afternoon passes without some fixture being decided. All the road races in these two capitals are held on quiet suburban roads, and they are consequently not a public danger, as was the case in Melbourne when the police stepped in and put a stop to the practice.