THE CALEDONIAN HANDICAPS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2754, 22 December 1894, Page 3

THE CALEDONIAN HANDICAPS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —In this morning's issue you published a list of the entries, with handicaps allotted, for the various events at the forthcoming meeting on Boxing Day. Sarely, Mr Editor, there is some mistake in the matter, made either by the handicapper or the printer, the former most probably. I refer more particularly to the manner in which the bicycle races are handicapped. To witness one competitor has 60 yards allowed him in two miles, but in the next race, a distance of three miles, he is put back 10 yards, to the 50 yards mark. Again, another competitor has 90 yards in two miles, but in a race a mile farther the same competitor has only 80 yards. Does it not stand to reason that if a man wants 90 yards in a two mile race to enable him to nave a chance of winning, surely that competitor requires a greater start in a journey a mile longer. Again, if the scratch man (and I believe he can) can give these competitiors I have mentioned a certain start in a two mile race, surely he has them at his mercy with a shorter start in a more lengthy journey. The whole handicaps bristle with these incongruities to which I would direct the attention of the stewards of the Caledonian Society in order that a somewhat fairer arrangement of starts should be allotted to each competitor. I trust the society will look into theße matters and not allow what promises to be a big field to be spoiled by injudicious handicapping. Trusting you, in the interests of fair play, will find space for this letter. —I am, etc.,

An Onlookeb, Temuka, December 20th, 1894.