CYCLE ROAD RACING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 410, 20 January 1909, Page 10

CYCLE ROAD RACING.

-"■:/:' •■' ■: ...,;>-—7— . ■'■'-•. •■!•■;■-..■ : '-".-'-S ; THE, LEQAL ASPECT. / ' V j (BI TBLEGBiPH—PEES3 ASSOCIATION.) 'V j -■ ~'."' ■■.-.: ....Chrlstchurch, January 19.'•''".•■:■ -*i An interesting development -of'the. cycle -' "'.•■'"., road race on December ■ 12, 1908, conducted : *■■:' under, the auspices ■'.' of /the. Christchurch ■".'•.•: '■■ Cycling'.and.Jfoto'r CJnb and the cycle-trades. " ;**.! was a case heard before Sir; H.iW.: Bishop; :. : ! S.M*, at the'ilagistrate's Court to-day, when , f! John Tozer, ,Barry Gallety, ' and Gilbert , *•*-: M'Gloin, three contestants in,the-race, rwere. .' ■; charged, on the information of the.police, • .:. -' with furious,riding.-.The case .for,the police; ; **X was. conducted .by'■Stati6n-Sergeaht.Johiir-:-..J ston; '■■.-■'"'' •'*■" ;'■'■'■ : - ; * :, ''" ■■;■■■•■.■•■.--■ .■"•"■-' - ;v ■ "'■■■.■■:.■ -! i; In laying , ;the : -before" -the : Benchj'- }; > . y \ Sergeant Johnston stated that-the three men-. '•■' -i had put-up.the":fastest tinie>in.the race, . : .-."* 2h.rs.. Bmjri. 26sec./ 2hrs. - Bmin/..585e0. ; , and ■ ; ■ 9min. 23sec. .respectively. '■■'':-. '. ■ '-'.I-/-. ■■'..:■■■■ 'In reply : to a question , by.the'ila'gistrate; . the sergeant ■;. stated that ■'.■ ordinary-road-." ' - ■.. racing bicycles were ;usedy arid the course was. ■ . V:! irom, Ricearton.:corner to Leeston and back, ' ■■■■'■'. about forty-six miles,- These races had taken ':' place for twenty years.past,' and-the Legis- ■- :■ lature had not deemed it necessary to frame; : .-•'-. &, law prohibiting them,- which fact proved 'v a that they were not looked upon as dangerous.- ': lhe fact that the riders had 'covered.forty ■■■■'■ ' ■■'■ miles in;something.like two' hours did not : necessarily , constitute ".furious" -riding ' within; the meaning of the word.. '' Where - '■ th ere was no. menace to;the safety of the ' public there was no "furious " riding. :: \ Tn? Magistrate: What;has'been'the cause ' '■:■-:::■■■■ of this :H;;-"- : . ■•■ ; . \V y;; ■;■ ' : >.-• ;-: ;-. Sergeant-Johhston'explained c that J ' there were always vehicles: on the road. ; Recently' , : the pol'-ce '.had, received a ■complaint; from a ■"•■•■ ■ ■ man-at Islington, s, whose trap:had been cap^;.. - . sized, ;and a"-child injured as the result of the ' ''■ norse'heingfrighteifed by-the competitors iri • '■ acycle race'being Held by-a number of young:' ''- '■' ■ men. , .-; ' -.-; "v- '.-' '■ *? J - : ~ ■ ! ■ -•'■- ,; -.-..'-\ ■-. .-■"-.-■■ - . -'• ". The recognised:' ther? :' .''•■■•.: could be' no; racing 6n' : a public road without' : ; , : ■■•''■ an element , of 'dangerT-.yif; ftycle motors 'had • : : •- :■! been used he would hlve:!had'no trouble in; ' ;i dealing^with'_.l*e"case^'The : niatter;swa|.eitJ ~: : -<;-') tirely". new; arid-, of -" v j and he would take time;|o;con;si4er^hff,cjiSe,: ; . '- '.'.■■'.' : -- : j