CYCLING CLUB’S SPORTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 269, 22 November 1901, Page 3

CYCLING CLUB’S SPORTS.

There was beautiful weather yesterday for the sports held under the auspices of the Cycling Club. The weather indeed was perfect, the November temperature being cooled by a nice breeze, from the east. The events proved very interesting, and some were most exciting. The attendance was not large, but it is probable that it would greatly increase if sports were held next week, as people have become infused with the enthusiasm that is inseparable from good cycle sports. The absence of outside cracks was deemed rather an advantage than otherwise, as there was no question that every race was fought out fairly on its merits. When a number of professionals are seen lazily pedalling along the track, each waiting to ! try and score the best of a sprint, the un- ! itiated spectator is apt to put it down to a ! desire to work off handicaps, or to the deceptive influences of the betting market, but there could be no question yesterday afternoon that everything was genuine, and the sport provided was capital. Mr W. Miller, as starter, did excellent work. The judges were Messrs T. Quinn and F. Allen, with Mr Wall as referee. The timekeepers were Messrs Seymour, Wakelyn, and Fraser. Mr W. Ranger acted as lap scorer. The handieappers were most successful in their work ; the wonder is that they did so well, seeing that there was so little to go upon. The haudicappers were: Cycling events, Messrs Eure and Hooper ; running events, Messrs Fraser and Primrose. The results were as follows : One Mile Maiden Handicap

First heat: P. Crone, 10yds, 1 ; TNicholson, 30yds, 2; A. Kirk, 83yds, B. Time, 2min 42 4-osec. Second heat: F. Goldsmith, 38yds, 1; G. Witty, 80yds, 2 ; A. Morris, 38yds, 3. Time, 2ujin 39 l-osec. Goldsmith won rather easily. Witty beat Morris by half a wheel for -econd place. Blakely fell in the last lap. The final for the maiden gave a capital finish, but much of the interest was taken from it by a breakdown just before the third quarter mile had been covered. Witty maintained his lead, the order of the others being A. Kirk, Goldsmith, and Crone. On passing the stand the second time the order was Witty, A. Kirk, Crone, and Nicholson, the others being close up. On the third round, as the competitors wore entering the straight all well together, with Witty still in front, P. Crone slipped and came down, bringing with him the others excepting Witty, A. Kirk, and Nicholson. A great race ensued between the trio, A. Kirk winniug by a couple of wheels, with the same distance separating second and third. Time, 2.47. • Half-mile Dash. For the first heat the starters were : C. Kirk ser., C. Crone 10yds, A. Kirk and L. Miller 50yds. llubertson and Murtagh were scratched. Miller fell when being shoved off at the start, and a grand race resulted between the remaining trio, who raced out the whole way. When 350y r ds from the post C. Ivirk got nearly even with the others, Crone having a slight lead as the straight was entered. A magnificent finish resulted in a dead heat between Crono and C. Kirk, the latter’s brother being a wheel behind. Time, 1.23. For the second heat there wore three starters, P. Crone and H. Warren 30yds, and W. Boland 50yds. Passing the stand for the first time Boland had a wheel in front. Then llolaud shot out for a hard sprint, and kept in front right to the post, where he was beaten by a couple of inches by Crone. Time, 1.23. 100yds Flat Bace,

There were four starters for this event. All got away splendidly, and ten yards from the tape Gregg clearly had the race, but there ho eased off, with the result that Morris, who made a grand finish, got even with him, and a dead heat resulted, Jarman close up for third place, with Nasmith just bohind him. Time, 11 1-0. Half-mile Novice Handicap.

First Heat: The starters were P. Crone ser, L. Miller '2oyds, W. Roland 25yds, G. Witty 45yds, and W. Pritchard 50yds. At the start Crone fell, and the others, who had got away smartly, had to come back. A good start was then effected. Witty and Roland kept in the lead, Crone coming up very fast from the r'ear. At the quarter Miller made a big effort, but fell away. Crone led into the straight, where Roland came at him hard, the result being that Crone just won by an inch or two, Witty being well up for third place. Time lmin 19 2-5 see. Second Heat: Goldsmith, A. Pritchard, and A. Murtagh started. At the quarter Goldsmith closed up, and making the best sprint in the straight ho won by a wheel from Pritchard, Murtagh being well up for third place. Time, lmin 21 3-5 see. One and a-half-milc Championship. G. Crone 1, T. Nicholson 2, Warren 3. C. Kirk got the little the best of a good start, but after they were fairly going Warren went through and made the pace for a round, with Crone and Nicholson lying next, and A. Ivirk last. On the next lap C. Kirk made the pace, and later on Crone and A. Kirk gave a turn. Before tho final round C. Kirk’s pedal gave way. In the last lap Nicholson eamo up and made a good finish, but Crone sprinted away, and won by three wheels from Nicholson, Warren being third. Time, 4.1 1-5. Boys’ Race. Bloomfield 1, Lucas 2, McConnell 3. There were five starters, young Bloomfield, who was tho smallest boy, having a long start, of which he made the best advantage, and won easily. Half-mile Novice Handicap. Goldsmith 1, P. Crone 2, Pritchard 3. Crone came up fast from scratch to third place. In the final lap Goldsmith went through, leading into the straight, with Crone next. Then Crone came up with a sprint, but could not overhaul Goldsmith, who won by a wheel from Crone, Pritchard a couple of wheels away third, and Roland well up for fourth place. Time 1.15 1-5. Final for Half-Mile Dash. C. Crone 1, C. Kirk 2, A. Kirk 8, Warren made the pace for tho first lap. when Crone took the lead, Warren being next, and the Kirk brothers together. Roland had a mishap before the first lap was covered. Crone came away from the field, and though the Kirk brothers both made a big try. Crone was able to cprint away from them in the straight, and'won by six yards, the two Kirks being close together for second and third place. Time, 1.14 2-5. 880 Yards Flat Race.

Sharp, owes 20yds, 1 ; A. Morris, scr., 2 : J. Smith, 35yds, 3. Nicholson, 30yds, Witty, 25yds, Jarman 35yds, also started. Smith made the pace most of the time, and at the last lap Sharp, Morris, and Smith raced close together and they entered the straight for the finish in that way, Sharp winning by half a yard, and the same distance separating second and third. Time, 2.17 4-5. Three Mile Handicap. C. Kirk, scr, 1 ; ‘C. Crone, 40vds, 2 ; A. Kirk, 300yds, 3. T. Nicholson, 256yds, and W. Roland, 350yds, also started. Crone and C. Kirk raced together, with A. Kirk giving the others a long lead. Steadily the pair at the rear overhauled the leaders, and at the tenth lap all were together; A. Kirk just in front, Crone next, and C. Kirk third. For the final, Crone and C. Kirk made a grand race ol it. Entering the straight, Crone had the lead, but C. Kirk got the best of the final sprint, and won by half-a-wheel, A. Kirk being close up for third place. Rounding the bend, Roland came down, bringing Nicholson with him. Roland camo down very heavily, and at first it wais feared that he had been seriously hurt. Nicholson also got much knocked about-. The sports were well organised by the j Secretary, Mr Cruikshank, who, with the captain of the Club, Mr Eure, had everything working satisfactorily,