CHRISTCHURCH CYCLING CLUB'S SPORTS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11491, 26 January 1903, Page 10

CHRISTCHURCH CYCLING CLUB'S SPORTS.

SIARTIN v SUTHERLAND iIATCHES. The Christ-church Cycling Cub was fortunate enough in securing a perfect day for its cycling meeting on Saturday, when the test matches between VV. Martin, of America.. and G. Sutherland, of New Zealand, took place. The programme events resulted ac follows : —

Match between W. Martin (America) and G. Sutherland (Xew Zealand); first distance, one mile mnpaced); prize, a purse of £50, and a aide wager of £25 a side.—G. Sutherland 1, W. Martin 2. Time, 3miu 51sec. This was a, remarkable race, and was more a contest orf scheming than racing. During the first two laps the pace wae extremely slow, but wli&u about half a lap had to be traversed, Sutherland, when at the south-west corner, made a sudden spurt and broke away. Martin could not catch up, and lost the race by about 50yds. Each competitor strove to out "manoeuvre the other, and Sutherland was the more, successful.

Chrisichurch Cycling Club's Stakes, one mile—First -heat: H. Holland. 30yds. 1; W. Palmer, scr, 2; H. Waldroij,'l7oyds. 3: E. J. Ritchie, 100 yds, 4. Time, 2tnin 55sec. Won by a length. Second heat: A. Watson. lOOyda. 1; A. Huston, 45yds, 2; A. R. Barker, 45vtls. 3; H. Amos ,45yds, 4. Won by about half a length, iime, 2inin 3 3-sth ser. F. Sutherland 150 yds and W. E. Staples 170 yds also started. Final heat- W. Palmer, scr. 1; H. Holland, 30yds, 2: A. Huston, 45yds, 3. Time, 2min 11-scc. Won by a wheel. E. J. Ritchie 100 yds. H. WakSron 170yda, H. Amos 45yds, A." R. Barker 45yds, arid A. Watson 100 yds, also started. Match between W. Martin (America) and G. Sutherland {New Zealand); second distance, twenty miles (motor paced)). Pacing machines for (5. Sutherland, motor tandem, driver, F. Smith, steersman. H. Thompson, and motor bicycle, driver. J. Best. Pacing machines for W .Martin, French motor bicycle, driver, G. Lewis, and motor bicycle, driver, E. H. Clark.—Sutherland's tandem was not in good working order when the race started, so for the first nine laps he was paced by J. Best's motor bicycle. Martin, meanwhile, hugging his 10-h.p. French motor had gained a lead of perhaps two-thirds of a lap. At the twentieth lap Martin, who was leading by about a lap nnd a quarter, punctured his back tyre, and the race* was stopped while repairs wero effected. On resuming five additional laps had been covered, when the back tyre on Martin's motor burst and slipped from the liru. This brought Lewie down with a crash that led most people in the vicinity to conclude that ho must have sustained injuries of some importance. Beyond a severe shaking, however, and a few cuts, Lewis fortunately was practicullv uninjured. The motor itself was considerably knocked about. Martin luckily cleared the wreckage, and pluckily continued on with the race, being pp.ccd by Mr Clark's bicycle motor. Sutherland gradually recovered tho iap and a half he had lost earlier in the race. Martin lost his pacer after another seventeen laps had been covered, and two laps afterwards broke one of his pedal straps and retired. Sutherland accordingly won. the two tests, and the third, a five mile motorpaced race, proposed to be held in case of a tie. was consequently abandoned.

Spectators' Race Handicap, two miles—G. Standring. 120 yds, 1; T. Whitfield. 40yds, 2; D. Martin. 50yds, 3. Time, smin 2-Sth sec. ' Major Taylor's Handicap, half mile—First heat: F .Sutherland, 90yds, 1; H. Waldron, 80yds, 2; A. Huston, 25yds, 3. Time, lmin 1 2-sih sec. E. J. Ritchie 35yds, W. E. Staples 80yds, and H. Amos 15yds also started. Second heat: O'Callaglian, 90yds. 1; H. Holland, 15yds, 2; A. R. Barker, 20yds, 3. A. Watson 35yds also started. Time, lmin 5 l-sth sec. Final heat: H. Holland, 15yds, 1; A. R. Barker, 20yds, 2; F. Sutherland. 90yds, 3. Time, 60 2-sth sec. Won by a wheel. O'Callagtan 90yds, H. Waldron 80yds, and A. Huston. 25yds also started. Motor Bicycle Handicap, five miles—Best and Towne's "Mitchell Motor," 2-h.p.; 70sec (driver, S. W. Dumergue), 1; Oafes and Lowry 8 "Thomas, Motor," lj-h.p., llOsec (driver, T. Oates), 2; N. Speechley'e "Motor Tandem," 40sec (drivers, H. Thompson and F. Smith), 3. Time, Bmin 19sec. Dumergue, who kept up a. rapid, steady pace, quickly passed his competitors, and won by two lap 3. Over 3000 spectatore were present at the meeting, and £170 14s was taken at the turnstiles.