CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1125, 2 November 1911, Page 13

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES

The Dunlop road race from Warrnambool to Melbourne has 'been taken from the winner, A. H. Collins, and awarded to the second man, J. Tebbs. This is the result of the investigation by the League of Victorian Wheelmen stewards into the interference alleged by the third man, F. Lessing. The trouble occurred only twentv-five yards from the winning post, when the three riders named were in a line fighting out the finishing sprint. At this point Lessing, who was in the ’centre, was seen to wobble, and then throw his arm into the air as a sign of protest. He crossed the line close behind Collins and Tebbs, who fought out almost exciting finish, the first named winning by about 15 inches. .Most, of those who witnessed the finish were aware that something occurred in the finishing sprint, and were prepared for the-protest lodged by Lessing immediately after the finish. This rider alleged that Collins caught hold of him and held him back, and many spectators vouched for the truth of Lessing’s complaint. That such an occurrence should take place right, under the ofiicials’ eyes is almost incomprehensible. In the first place, Collins was finishing the strongest of

the leaders, for photographs taken 150 yards from the finish show him at least three lengths behind Tebbs, who had Lessing lapping his back wheel. Collins picked up .the leaders, and yet he is alleged to have taken his hand off his handlebar and interfered with Lessing. Collins denied the charge, but the League of Victorian Wheelmen stewards upheld the protest and disqualified the winner, awarding the race to the second man. A most damaging piece of evidence against Collins was a cinematograph picture taken of the finish by Pathe Freres, for at a private inspection, when each little picture w’as shown slowly, there was distinct evidence of interference. This is the second occasion upon which the ‘Warrnambool” has been taken away from the first man across the line, - the previous case occurring in 1897, when a rider named Vaughan took a short cut (one usually taken by cyclists at the time across a paddock near Little River, about 32 miles from Melbourne), and to the amazement of the leading bunch of riders, who had no knowledge of his being ahead, romped home an easy winner. The race was awarded to the second man, W. C. Jackson.