CYCLING NOTES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9238, 16 October 1895, Page 2

CYCLING NOTES.

By Velox,

The new asphalt track at Lancaster Park should be ready for training purposes in the course of a week. With the exception of a final coating;, which will be put on about the end of the month, the path is just about finished. Messrs G. W. Bureton and T. O. Hunter, tbe Melbourne cyclists, who are touring the colony arrived at Greymouth on September 30th and passed through Christchurch last week. Reynolds, the New Zealand eyclitr, has followed the example of Wilrnot, Hay ward and Jones and won an Australasian Championship on New South Wales soil. Tha race took place at the combined championship meeting held on Monday under the auspices of the New South Wales Cyclists' Union and Amateur Athletic Association at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The distance was five miles and it was expected that besides Reynolds and tbe pick of the local men, there would be representatives from Queensland and Victoria. The account to hand says the New Zealander made the pace throughout, and won by 350 yds in tbe fair time of 12i_in 59 2-sth sec. By winning by such a distance it is evident that the New Zealander must have ({one away at a great pace, and the others did not trouble to go after him, thinking probably he would come back to them; but it is evident in this tbey were disappointed. A triplet of French manufacture baa just arrived in Melbourne. It has been imported expressly to pace Zimmerman during his Australian tour. The Dunedin correspondent of this journal writes:—Cycling has caught on here properly. The Otago Club alone boasts of a membership of 350. They are tenants of the Caledonian Society, which has just completed a track specially for their use. Judges pronounce it one of the best in New Zealand.—Over one hundred and eighty wheelmen and wheelwomen turned up at the opening of the season on Saturday, in the presence of some hundreds of spectator.. Leaving the Triangle they paraded, in donble file, the mala streets, and excited considerable interest, especially tbe lady cyclists, who wore the " reformed " dress. The first meeting (writes a correspondent), of the Pahiatua Cycling Club, wm held on the Ist Inst., when only four members were present. Officers were elected for the ensuing season, Mr D. Puckle being appointed secretary and treasurer. The Feilding Cycling Club held their opening run on September _stb, but owing to tbe high wind only five riders took part. The Rangitikei Cycling Club opened tbe season on the same day, when two road races were held, both being won by P. Henderson. Mubliesen, the New Zealand cyclist, who holds the Brisbane to Sydney record, will probably make an endeavour shortly to establish a record from tbe North Cape to the Bluff. The following records wen put up at

Catford Bridge ground on August 22nd, the first day of the twelve hours Catford Gold Vase contest :— Mis. H. M. 8- H. M. 8. •_ Stocks.. 0 10 54 4-5 »So Stocks., 1 4 29 4-5 *in Betts .. 021 211-5 "85 „ .. IIS 621-5 *15 Stncks.. 031 17 2-5 NO „ _. 126 50 4-5 *20 Bstts .. 0 4-J 13 15 *45 „ _, 138 46 4-5 *_sStOO_s.. 053 231-5 *60 „ -161831-5 •Record. The North Road Club's 100 Mile Race was decided at Catford Bridge on August 17th, when V. D. Frost (Bath Road C.C.) won easily, doing the distance in 3hrs oa.uin 47sec. J. R. Goodwin (North Road C.C.) waa second in 4hrs smin 26 l-sth sec, and A. F. Ilsley (North Road C.C.) was third, doing 4hra srain 54 2-sth sec. Horton, who finished fifth, broke the record from 27 miles to 35 miles and Frost lowered it from 54 miles until tbe finish, doing 9min 43 1-s'h sec better than the previous time for 100 mileß. On the same day J. W. Stocks, who is an unlicensed amateur, rode five miles in llrain 11 3-sth sec, and ten miles In 22min 5 l-sth sec, both performances being the best on record for England up to date. An international meeting was commenced at Cologne on August 17th, when Protin, of Liege, won the final of the mile professional Championship of the World, with Banker, ot New York, second a few inches away. Time, 2mln 31sac. The amateur international team race was won by the Dutch team, England and Belgium being equal for second place. Tbe meeting was concluded on August 10th, when the One Kilometre Handicap Race was won by P. Laugewold, of Hoilaud, Watßon, of England being second. Peterson and Watson won the Kilometre Tandem Race, and M. Cordang, of Holland, the 100 Kilometre Amateur Championship of the world. After the meeting Banker entered a protest that Protin was ineligible to start in the race he won on the flrßt day, and the heat was declared void and was to have been decided again at Paris last month. The Cycle (England) publishes an interview with Tom Busst, who was at one time champion of Australia. An interesting part is as follows:—" Do you think the present champions are. equal..to the old ordinary riders?"—" Hardly," replied the past colonial champion. " Megson is very good, but most of the others are just so-so - one wins to-day, and someone else tomorrow—there is really no distinct champion." Tbe latter part of this is really good (says a Sydney writer). There never was a more distinct champion in any part of the world than Megson is of Australasia. He has met every fast rider, and has defeated all of them, Borne of them more than once. Busst was a good man in his time, but he was a long way hehiud what Msgson is now. When Megson visited Adelaide early this year Busst said that he was only a second-class rider, and could not sprint. A week after, when the racing was over, Busst admitted chat Megson wae a wonder.