CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 726, 4 February 1904, Page 13

CYCLING

THE AUCKLAND CYCLING CLUB’S SPORTS MEETING. The Auckland Cycling Club’s meeting on the Domain on Anniversary Day must have been somewhat disheartening to the promoters, as the attendance both in the afternoon and evening was very small. No doubt the majority of people prefer to spend a holiday further afield, and with such strong counter-attractions as the Takapuna Races, Regatta, and Gulf excursions, a big muster at the cycling sports could hardly have been hoped for. The racing was very interesting, the Mile Championship being very exciting. Davis and Brook riding a dead heat. Mr H. J. Fielder officiated as starter, Messrs T. Harte Giles, Alfred Kidd, C. Smith and G. Tutt, acted as judges, Mr A. G. Baddiley as referee, and Messrs E. Jones, G. E. Reid, and I. Holden as timekeeper. Mr Geo. Watts, the secretary, worked hard to keep things going smoothly. 100YDS HANDICAP FOOT RACE. F. Barton, syds 1 J. Hooker, 2yds 2 W. T. Torrens, 3iyds 3 Time, 10 l-ssec. HALF-MILE BICYCLE HANDICAP (Boys under 18 years). F. G. Farrell, scratch 1 A. Anderson, 25yds 2 R. Bums, 20yds 3 Time, Imin 19 2-ssec. HALF-MILE BICYCLE HANDICAP. F. C. Ewen. 25yds 1 F. G Twiss, 25yds 2 H. Hayward, scratch 3 Time, Imin 13 l-ssec. 440YDS HANDICAP. P. A. Stubbing, 10yds 1 J. Hooker, 20yds 2 H. G. Che vis, scratch 3 Other starters : A. B. Smith, scratch ; A. Twiname, 10yds ; T. Wynyard, 14yds ; W. E. Torrens, 16yds ; H. McLeod, 18yds. Time, 5« 1-Ssec. A .great finish, won by a yard. FIVE-MILE MOTOR CYCLE SCRATCH RACE. F. G. Farrell, lf-h.p., Indian 1 P. A. Smith, Albert- 2 V. Sutherland, Howie-Minerva 3 Time, 9min 38 2-ssec. QUARTER-MILE BICYCLE TIME TRIALS. F. G. Rowe, 32 2-ssec 1 F. G. Hayward, 33 l-ssec 2 F. G. Twis-s, 33 2-ssec * R. H. Davis, 33 2-ssec * *Dead-heat. Other starters : H. H. Brook, 34 3-ssec; F. C. Ewen 34 3-ssec ; C. Kidd, 34 4-5 sec; H. C. Alexander, 35sec. Nine started, but H. Hayward fell. The competitors started singly, and each man’s time taken from the scratch mark to the finishing post. HALF-MILE HANDICAP. W. T. Wynyard, 35yds 1 H. G. Chevis, 30yds 2 P. A. Stubbing, 25yds 3 Other starters : A. B. Smith, 25yds ; A. Twiname, 35yds ; T. H. Hansen, 40yds; J. Hooker, 50yds ; F. G. Grantville. Time, 2min ssec. Won by a couple of yards, the third and fourth men being Syds behind.

ONE-MILE PROVINCIAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. R. H. Davis ..- * H. H. Brook •* H. Hayward 3 Time, 2min 30 4-ssec. u TWO MILES MOTOR CYCLE PURSUIT RACE. S. H. Howie, Howie-Minerva)..., 1 V. Sutherland, Howie-Minerv* 2 TWO MILES WHEEL RACE (Handicap^ 1 R. H. Davis, scratch i H. Hayward, scratch 2 E. Cucksey, 35yds 3 Time, smin 38 2-ssec. ONE MILE MAIDEN BICYCLE (Handicap.) D. Currie,, 30yds 1 E. J. McKay, 15yds 2 W. E. Johns, 20yds 3 Time, 2min 40sec. The winner secured the verdict by a couple of yards, second and third men being close together. TWO MILES MOTOR-PACED SCRATCH RACE H. Hayward 1 Other starter : H. H. Brook. Time, 4min 47 2-ssec. 220YDS HANDICAP. A. Twiname, 7yds 1 F. Barton, 12yds 2 J. Hooker, 11yds 3 Other starters : H. McLeod, Byds ; E. Nolan, 10yds ; R. Campbell, 13yds. Time, 24 2-ssec. A splendid finish, won by a foot. ONE MILE BICYCLE HANDICAP. F. G. Hayward, 35yds 1 F. G. Twiss, 40yds 2 F. G. Rowe, 55yds 3 Time, 2min 34 2-ssee. An interesting discussion was recently published in one of the cycling papers, regarding the advantages and benefits of long rides, as against short ones. Those of the lengthy outings scored every time, al though it was admitted that the short ride may often prove delightful under certain conditions. It was classed by one writer as a tit-bit, or a snack ; by another as a mere sample, and by a third as the impromptu or overture ; but “ the long ride is the full orchestra, whose each episode and experience, every change and chance of the day, like the major and minor notes of the chorus, contribute to form a complete and memorable ride.” Some sought to disparage the long ride, because of its possible mishaps and disappointments. Such things are inseparable from our lives, so why bring them into this matter ? Those of us who have ridden far, and often, know that to extract the utmost enjoyment from the pastime, and to appreciate the real value of cycling, one must do so in long and intimate wanderings, in close and faithful companionship, and many a hard day’s riding with the wheel. There is )p,lso, as in other phases of life, a strenuousnesis and pride in meeting and combating such roadside troubles as go to the making of a cyclist, and which the dilettante rider can never know. How good the pleasures of anticipation (and it has been said we derive more pleasure from the prospective than the realisation) as plans are prepared, and courses mapped out for a long day's ride, or for several day®’ tour. We have something- to occupy our

minds, and engage our attention for days before we actually start, which, in. it* mental effect, is most beneficial. The journey or tour completed, w r e have a variety which the short ride cannot afford. Those riders who race, who follow the sport only, constitute a different class of riders from those who tour, and, save for the wheel, have nothing in common. One follows the sport, and the other practises: the pastime —two totally different things in cycling. We hear mor* of the few hundreds who race, but little or nothing of the many thousands who tour, but who, with the critics of cycling,, are altogether disregarded. *•. . • The International Test Race was the star event of the big, carnival which has just concluded In Sydney, some 20,000 people being present. Lawson won the first heat, Taylor got the second, Downing the third, and W. M’D.onald the fourth. The final was perhaps, the best race ever witnessed on the Sydney course (says the Sydney '‘Mail”). At the bell M’Donald led, with Taylor second, Downing third, and Lawson last. The riders never varied their position until the bell sounded. When 100 yards or so further on Lawson tried his best to spring a march on Taylor. Downing, however, was not so fast as MacFarland, and could render Lawson no assistance. The race therefore resolved itself into a. man-to-man contest between Taylor and Lawson. Round by the members’ pavilion Taylor had a yard lead ; then Lawson got up level entering, the straight. It looked either rider’s race until 20 yards from the tape, when Taylor put in. a finish twice as fast as Lawson, and won a good race by half a length amidst tremendous cheering. <••*** It is not generally known that Major Taylor when only is' years of ajg& ran. eighth in the big New York six days’ race. Taylor’s mileage was 1,730 odd, miles, and so satisfied was he that, he made up his mind to follow a racing career, and as a start took up work as a mechanic in a cycle factory. Previous to this, according to a London journal,, he was washing up glasses in a New York saloon. Now he makes his thousands a year.