FIRST AERIAL DERBY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1503, 27 July 1912, Page 3

FIRST AERIAL DERBY.

A GREAT RACE.

By .far the most important event in the aviation world during the present year was the first aerial Derby, which was flown o5 on Saturday, Juno 8. The incentive offered to the airmen to. competo was a gold cup given by the pro'prietors of the "Daily Mail," £250 in gold as first prize, and two other prizes of .£IOO and .£SO respectively, the money being tho gift of Mr. Harold Barlow. -The course, 81 miles as the crow flies, was from the aerodrome to Kcmpton Park, aud thence to Esher, Puriey, Putfloet. Tipping, across to High Baruet.'and back to the aerodrome. The courso was an extremely difficult one, and called forth, as it was intended it should, the full qualities of airmanship of the respectivo pilots. At 4.40 the signal was given to start, and Sippe, in his little Hanriot monoplane, started off at a good rate. Then at intervals of a minute tho other men took up the running, circling the course, and darting away to the south at tremendous speed. At 5.55 the official observer, mounted high upon his box, announced a "mtonoplane in sight." Immediately all eyes were turned in the direction indicated and in a minute or two a small speck on the horizon was discerned It was quickly seem that tho first-comer was Sopwith—whose chances were fancied from the first—and at 6.30 he tnndc'.a magnificent landing, having been .84' minutes in tho air. About fifteen minutes later, Hamel, who was flying with.Miss Trehawke Davies as a passenger was back in the aerodrome. About twenty minutes later Moorhouse landed, and in another twenty minutes Valentine returned. It was then announced that Terrier, who also had a passenger, had come down at Kemptoa Park unhurt, and that Guillaux had been forced to come to earth when he was within four miles of having completed his journey, owing to lack of petrol. The official times were therefore: Hγ. Min. Sccl Sopwith 6 2 8 2-5 Hamel 6 18 ; 4G Moorhouse 6 42 22 Valentine ...'. 7 10 ,39. Tho official observers came from the different points en route, and at 9.20 the followiug results were announced:—l, Hamel; 2, Moorhouse; 3, Valentine. Sopwith, who arrived first, was disqualified for not pasing Purley Corner, according to the rules of tho race. Late in the evening Mr. Grahamo White made an ascent with a searchlight.