CYCLING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 815, 19 October 1905, Page 15

CYCLING.

(Bi-

“Petrol.”)

The following is the thirteenth annual report of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen, presented at the annual meeting held yesterday :—The council, in presenting the thirteenth annual report, has great pleasure in referring to the success of cycling as a sport during the past year. Finance : The year started with a credit balance of £43 6s Bd. During the present year the receipts totalled £ll4 2s 9d, which, added to the amount brought forward, gives a total of £157 9s sd. The expenditure amounted to £57 Os Id, leaving a balance to the credit of the League of £lOO 9s 4d, or an~ increase over last year’s balance of £57 2s Bd. The amount received for subscriptions has increased by the sum of 10s 6d, whilst the amount received for permit and license fees has increased by £5 16s 6d. The council and clubs under its jurisdiction are to be congratulated upon the solid financial position of the League, this year’s balance forward being the aMk largest recorded since 1899. New Clubs : The following new clubs have been affiliated during the year:—Hastings Cycling Club, Centaur Cycling Club, Clifton Cycling Club, Cheltenham Athletic and Cycling Club, and Belfast Cycling Club. Struck Off: The following clubs have been struck off as defunct : —Waihi, Karangahake, Thames, Gisborne, Hutt Valley, Timaru Tourists, Waimate, Otautau and Winton. The League has now fortysix clubs affiliated, whilst in every district in the colony except Auckland the whole of the racing promoted by affiliated bodies was held under our rules. Championship Meeting: The 1905 cash championships were decided at Temuka on Easter Monday, and resulted as follows : —Half and one mile, J. Arnst; three and five miles, M. Randrup. Amateur championships : The amateur championships were decided at the Amateur Athletic Association’s Shrubb-Duffey meeting, T. A. Oates winning the half, one and three miles, whilst W. Reynolds was the winner of the five miles. The entry for these events was very small, and it will be for the council to seriously consider whether it is advisable to continue hold-

ing them, or to wait until the amateur riders of the colony evince some desire to enter in larger’ numbers. Challenge Trophies : Mr. T. Oates became the winner for the year of the Alliance trophy. The D.C.L. shield was won by H. Bowley. New Rules: The rules have been carefully amended, and will be submitted to the centres in the course of this month, and will be ready for distribution before the racing season commences. Death: The council has with regret to refer to the death of F. E. Asquith, who for many years took a very keen interest in the sport. His loss has been greatly felt. The council was represented at the funeral, and a wreath was forwarded in token of the respect in which he was held by the cyclists of the colony. In conclusion, the members of the council would express a hope that the sport under its government will continue to prosper, and that the coming season will show a still greater increase in the number of clubs and associations affiliated to the League. —On behalf of the council, H. Curtis, chairman.

The prize-money for this year’s Melbourne Austral meeting is £ll6B, the big event having prizes of £5OO, £lOO, and £2O, and £3O for semi-finals.

Ellegaard has been racing in good form on the Continent recently. He has defeated’ Poulain, the world’s champion, several times.

George Farley, the Australian champion, has returned to Sydney from Europe, where he was racing with moderate success.

Don Walker’s record as an Australian cyclist will take a deal of rubbing out. He has been riding since 1889, and at the present time occupies scratch mark alone. Just on 200 races have fallen to his calves, with a contingency of over £3OOO in prizes. Walker’s racing track longevity is probably a world’s record.