CHAMPION BICYCLE RACE.

Patea Mail, 28 July 1882, Page 3

CHAMPION BICYCLE RACE.

A ten rnilps bicycle match, between the long-distance bicyele champion, G-. W. Waller, and John Keen, of Surbiton, the former receiving thirty seconds start, was decided on June 10th at Newcastle, England, the stake at issue being £25 a-side. It is estimated that between 7,000 and 8,000 people passed the gates, and they perched themselves on every available position to get a view of the race. Shortly before six o’clock the men were despatched on their journey by the referee and starter, Mr Gr. M. Todd, of the North Durham Cricket Club. Mr T. E. Jobling fired the pistol that despatched Waller, and then Mr Todd sent Keen away at the expiration of thirty seconds .with a similar signal. Waller, though unsteady at the start, made fairly good use of his start, accomplishing within twenty yards of a lap (317£ yards) before his opponent got in motion. Both were loudly cheered as they bent themselves to their task of covering 56 laps of the track. The Newcastle man seemed as if he were trying to get in behind his opponent, but the latter, riding in beautiful style, and with great dash, did not allow him to do this. When the first couple of laps had been traversed, it was evident that Waller was labouring heavily and riding rather unsteadily, especially when coming up the east end of the track against a very heavy breeze. At every lap Keen perceptibly narrowed the gap, and when one-fourth of the distance had been covered he was only half a lap in the rear. Amidst great excitement Keen rode up level with Waller in the twentieth lap, but seeming content with his position lay close up for several laps. Occasionally Waller broke away with a dash, but was soon caught again, and then he appeared to nurse his energies for further efforts. In the 27th, 32nd, and 40th laps Waller spurted in fine style but without avail, as the Surbiton man was soon up to his old position. At the 49th lap Keen shot to the front, but they simply changed places, Waller taking his position at his opponent’s heel. The pace now became warmer, and it was evident that Waller was not yet done with. This was shown to effect when but four laps had to be gone, for the Newcastle man rode with great dash, forcing the conceder to start to show his best pace. Two laps from the finish the pair were racing .in splendid style, and the severity of the strugglecreated intense excitement. During the last lap Waller rode better than he had done in any part of the race, but being on the outside lost somewhat at the turns. Entering the straight forty yards from home, Waller came with a magnificent effort, but just failed to get up, Keen winning by a foot. The time for the race, 37 rain. 53| sec. was slow, but this is accounted for by the strong breeze that met the men up the east side of the track, and the fact that both made it a “ waiting ” race.—Newcastle Chronicle.

The strength of the Egyptian army is sot down in round numbers as 30,000 men; their navy at the end of 1880 consisted of 7 ships, with, a total burthen of 16,476 tons; and the population of Alexandria before bombardment was estimated at 212,000.