CYCLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 813, 5 October 1905, Page 15

CYCLING.

The last of this season’s big road races, viz., from Warrnambdol to Melbourne, took place on Saturday. There has been very bad weather in Victoria recently, and the roads were in a bad state. The fine field of 154 started, and the winner turned up in W. Hawley, who was pitchforked into the race with a 25 minutes’ handicap, considering that on the previous Saturday he had won the 25-mile championship of Australia. He finished ten minutes ahead of R. Finlay and E. J. Turner, both Victorian riders, on the 50 minutes’ mark. The time was 7hr 52min 26sec, which is 31sec shorter than J. Wright’s time last year, but is a good deal slower than J." Arnst’s record.

Of the competitors ‘from this colony, Neilson did best, but he could get no nearer than eighth. R. Arnst fell and injured his arm, and there were a good many other casualties.

The Australasian 25 miles’ cycling road championship was decided at Campbellfield, Melbourne, on Saturday week, and the result was a win for W. F. Hawley, of Victoria, who just defeated R. W. Morgan, also of Victoria, and J. Arnst,

of New Zealand. The time was Ihr 12min 58sec. In describing the race the “ Sydney Mail” says that on turning for home Arnst’s chain snapped. He availed himself of an offer made by a bystander, but he lost 100 yards. Hagney also met with an accident. After about 300 yards of the race had been run, a cart was met with three horses tethered to the tailboard, and, as the racing men swept past, the horses became frightened, and spread over the road. In endeavouring to avert a collision the competitors rode in all directions, and as one of the men turned sharply to the side of the road, his back wheel touched Hagney’s machine, throwing him heavily to the metalled roadway. At first it appeared he was seriously injured, but Mr. M. McGillicuddy, honorary medical officer of the League of Victorian Wheelmen, who was standing at the spot where the fall occurred, found no bones broken, or seriour injuries sustained. Hagney, however, was covered with dust, and bled profusely from a number of superficial cuts about the face and arms. At a later stage, O’Connor broke his pedal, and was thrown with great violence on his head. His face and scalp were severely cut about, but no alarming injuries were sustained. • » * * The phenomenal sales of the present season’s cycles in the Old Country have prompted curiosity as to the total output for the year. This has been computed by one statistician at 300,000; according to the financial editor of the “ Daily Mirror,” the estimate is under the mark. Coventry alone accounts for 180,000, and, accepting the figures previously quoted for other towns mentioned, making the 300,000 allowed for, there still remain other centres, where, in the aggregate, from 40,000 to 50,000 other machines have been produced. . Major. Taylor has, according to American papers; renounced riding. -He was suspended for alleged breach of contract. The French authorities offered to have the sentence removed if he would pay them 1000 dollars, which they stated was one-fifth of what they had lost through Taylor’s non-appearance. Taylor refused, and says he will race no more. • • « » The Grand Prix de Hanover, which attracts riders from all parts of Europe, was won by Dickentmann, who, it will be remembered, toured Australia with Robl a couple of years ago.

The ten miles’ championship of Australia took place at Sydney on Monday evening, and gave rise to a fine finish. Pye and R. Arnst dashed home together, but the New Zealander had to be content with second place, Pye winning by a yard in 23min 28 3-ssec.