CYCLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 721, 31 December 1903, Page 13

CYCLING.

The richest country bicycle race meeting now held in Australasia is the Great Wostral Meeting held in Kalgoorlie (W.A.) at ’Xmas time. The principal event is the Westral Wheel Race, a two miles handicap worth £3OO. McFarland, the crack American rider, is spoken of as a likely visitor, to Kalgoorlie with a view of capturing the scratch races, and making a bid for the rich Wheel Race.

Owing to several big inter-state meetings being held at New Year time and on into January, the promoters of the Sydney Thousand Handicap have wisely decided to run the £lOOO race in March next, instead of January as at first proposed. The programme for the January Meeting has therefore been re-modelled, and the big event will be an international Test Scratch Race worth £ll4. Major Taylor will make his first re-ap-pearance in Australia in this event.

Few of the public have any idea of the extent of cycle racing in Australia, or of the large amount of money annually competed for by cyclists in the Commonwealth. It is estimated that over £12,000 will be raced for in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Westralia during the present season, which is a big increase on the previous years 1 ’ prizemoney. The popularity of cycle racing is on the increase, despite the pessimistic ?ries one hears of the decadence of the pastime. The advent of motor cycle racing should further assist in popularising cycle racing.

I don’t think it is expecting too much to anticipate that the racing at the January and March carnivals in Sydney will be the best ever seen in Australia (writes “Wheeler” in the “Referee”). It ought to be, when such champions aS Taylor, Lawson, and M’Farland will be pitted against one another, but, apart from that, the Australians promise to be in much better form than they were earlier in the season and last season. It was anticipated in the “Referee” that several riders would show great improve-

ment about Austral time, as many only laid themselves out to get well by then. Though Walker was not in that category, still, he was below himself in November, and now shows that he is going to do better. Scheps, of course, has come on, as we forecasted weeks ago that he would. Gudgeon, who was riding brilliantly in training just before the last carnival here, but who appeared to overdo it, and who also had a tumble, is now apparently back to his best again. Dick Mutton is also pretty well ; so is Ben Goodson. W. M’Donald did not win as the Austral meeting, but only needs a little time. Forbes was unlucky. He shines as a hard, pluggir. handicap rider, and was no doubt determined to win another Austral, when a fall on the road upset his calculations. Not last comes Megson, who may pick up his best pace any day. It does not do to rely 100 much on Joe, but he is now doing his graft daily, and it is quite on the cards that he will effect some surprises. Another promising rider likefy to do good deeds on the track before the season closes is Charle Orr. If he minds himself, and has a bit of luck, hardly anything is beyond him, and ere long he may be challenging Scheps for supremacy.

The third day’s racing of the Christchurch Cycling Club was held at Lancaster Park on Boxing Day. The principal events resulted as follows :—

Wheel Race . G. Sutherland, scratch, 1 ; R. Connell, 35yds, 2 ; A. Watson, 120yds, 3. Time, 4min 20 2-ssec. Royal Enfield Challenge Cup (three miles) : G. Sutherland, 1 ; R. Connell, 2; J. Arnst, 3. R. and J. Ainst led into the last lap, but’ Sutherland passed them 300yds from home, winning comfortably by a length. Time, 7min 17 4-ssec.