PIONEER BICYCLE CLUB.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1878, 1 March 1880, Page 3

PIONEER BICYCLE CLUB.

A race meeting in connection with the above club was held in Hagley Park on Saturday. The occasion was eventful, on account of the meeting being the first of its kind held in New Zealand, and the result, generally, may be regarded as having been a signal success. There were upwards of two thousand people on the ground, and the various events were watched with an interest and occasionally enthusiasm, which promised well for the future popularity of the sport. The weather was all that could bo desired, and a very pleasant afternoon rewarded those who visited the ground. One or two mishaps occurred, which proved vexatious at the time, principally owing to tho senseless crowding of spectators at the starting point and vicinity. This is a matter which calls fox 1 special mention, not only that it may act as a warning for future meetings, but in order to point to the necessity of the Bicycle Club adopting measures to prevent, if possible, a recurrence of the unpleasantness. On one occasion a clownish specimen of humanity walked across the course, insanely looking about him, just as Mr Farr was coming up tho straight in the ten-mile contest ; the result was a nasty spill for the latter, whose bicycle came in contact with the man’s leg. This completely put Mr Farr out of the race, and inasmuch as he had up to that period been “in the running,” a very general expression of sympathy for him and indignation against the cause of his accident found vent among tne bystanders. Other accidents of a similar kind were caused by crowding the edges of the course, the riders sustaining some awkward bruises, and two bicycles being broken in consequence. On the whole, however, as before stated, tho meeting was eminently successful. Appended is a description of the various events :

The programme, a very long one, commenced with a one-mile handicap, for which the following entered :

ONE MILE CLUB HANDICAP. W. Cntteu ... ... ... scratch D. Robertson 50 yds H. Clarke 70 yds F. W, Gough 100 yds T. Search 125 yds This race was a rather |hollow affair, Mr Cutten passing his men in the second lap, and winning easily by nearly 100 yards, Gough second, T. Searrell [third. Time —3min. 47 l-sth sees. FOUR MILE HANDICAP. E. C. Farr scratch D. Robertson ... 100 yds L. B. Hubbard 200 yds T. Allison 210 yds Fox ... ... ... ... 300 yds A. James 360 yds P. W. Gough 450 yds T. Searrell 500 yds This was a very exciting race, Mr Pox passing his men in the third lap, and holding his position to the finish, winning by 180 yards, though all did their best to wrest the honors from him. The pace was very hot, causing Mr Gough to retire at the fifth lap, and Mr James at the tenth. Parr, Hubbard and Allison made a grand race for second place, passing and repassing each other several times ; Hubbard eventually securing the coveted position, Parr third. Time, 15min. 15sec. The handicaps in this race were too good, Mr Pox’s powers being much under rated. Slow Race—loo yards. First Heat. Cutten 1 Gough 2 Gough fell and was disqualified, Cutten keeping his machine well in hand, winning in 3min. 19 2-sth sec. Second Heat. James 1 Searrell 2 In this heat Mr Searrell was the unfortunate one, going to earth soon after starting, James finishing as he pleased. Final Heat. Cntten 1 James 2 Again Mr Cutten was successful, James falling, and leaving his opponent to ride over the distance. This race being a novel feature in bicycling circles gave much amusement to the spectators, to see the strenuous efforts of the riders to keep their positions in their saddles. Quarter Mile, without use of bandies. First Heat. Clarke 0 Searell ... ... ... ... 0 Cntten 0 Both Clarke and Searell breaking the rule as regards the handles were disqualified before going half the distance, and Mr Cutten committing the same offence abaut a yard from the winning post, all were disqualified. Second Heat. Gough 0 Booth 0 Hubbard ... ... ... ... 0 Hubbard and Booth formed a friendly alliance, and came to earth shortly after leaving the starting place, and Gough also breaking the rules left the race to be run again, Mr Cutten winning the heat easily in 65 l-sth secs., and finally securing the prize, all entered in the second heat being disqualified. ten miles handicap. W. Cntten scratch E. C. Farr scratch G. E. Dalton 200 yds T. Allison 300 yds H. Clarke 500 yds A. P. James 1000 yds F. W. Gough ... ... ... 1250 yds G. H. Applegate 1320 yds Mr James did not start. For two miles all kept their places, though the scratch men were fast catching their opponents. At about the half-distance Dalton came to grief, a boy running across the course and throwing him from his machine, causing him to lose a lot of ground. In the sixth mile Allison and Clarke collided, both falling, and so damaging Clarke’s machine as to cause him to retire from the contest. In this mile Applegate was also thrown, owing to the persistency of the boys in crowding the track. Cutten, Parr, and Dalton, who had all passed their men, and wore riding a most exciting race, with Allison close behind, were next separated from the same reason, Parr being thrown from his machine and sustaining such injuries that he was prevented from returning to the course. Prom this to the finish it was a splendid race, Cutten doing his utmost to catch Dalton, but failed to do so, losing by one lap and twenty yards, Allison third, and Applegate fourth. Time —40min. 23 3-ssec. The afternoon’s sport was brought to a conclusion with a Half-mile Consolation Race, won by Mr E. O. Farr in Imin. 55 3 ssec. presentation of prizes. The presentation of prizes to the successful competitors took place in the Commercial Hotel at eight o’clock, Mr E. O. J. Stevens, president of the club, occupying the chair. The prizes were ranged on the table, and presented a goodly show of trophies well worth winning. The principal prize was that given by Mr Stevens for the winner of the big event. It is a silver card or print basket — provided by Mr G. White, watchmaker, Colombo street, —a very handsome piece of plate; and the remaining prizes were silver cups and trinkets. Mr Stevens, in presenting the prizes, said it would not be out of place, on an occasion like the present, for him to make a few remarks on this, the first match in connection with a somewhat new and very important branch of athletics. He then went on to point out the difficulties the club had been obliged to contend with, and thought it very gratifying that the Canterbury Club had taken the initiative in the direction of giving this sport a practical impetus, and it must be a source ot considerable pleasure to the members of the club, as it was to him, its president, that their first meeting bad been attended with such complete success. Before proceeding further he made allusion to the success attained by one of the competitors, Mr Cutten, who came from a distance —a success which he felt sure the local men present did not grudge him. [Applause.] On the contrary, ho (Mr Stevens) thought it was well for the club that a stranger should have carried away honors, as it would prove the strongest incentive the members could have to increased effort in support of this branch of athletics. He then proceeded to distribute the prizes in their order. The presentations being over, Mr Stevens said he was informed that a prize would be given to the winner of the race without handles, in which Mr Cutten, their southern friend, was the successful competitor. It would be purchased and forwarded to him. Mr Searrell moved a vote of thanks to the president, Mr Stevens, for his kindness in attending that evening, and his generosity in giving the ten mile prize. Seconded by Mr Parr, jun., and carried by acclamation. This terminated the proceedings, and th« meeting then broke up.