WAIKATO AMATEUR ATHLETIC AND CYCLING CLUB.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 242, 1 February 1898, Page 2

WAIKATO AMATEUR ATHLETIC AND CYCLING CLUB.

Officers:—Refereo: MrEdgocumbe. Judge: Mr C. J. W. Barton. Timekeepers; Messrs Harker, Howdcii and W. Hammond. Starter: Mr C. N. LeQuesno. Laptakers: Messrs Manning and You Stunner. Stewards: Messrs A. Elliott, G. Parr, M. H. Quick, G. L. Mahou, Speight, LeQuesno, Young, J. and W. Hammond, Manning and W. Von Stunner. Hon. Secretary: Mr C. Blackburn. The sports meeting held under the auspices of 1 he Waikato Amateur Athletic and Cyc'iug Club, on Saturday last, was without doubt a most successful one. Notwithstanding the threatening outlook of the previous evening, fortune for once smiled benignly or. the Club, and , prov'ded that most essential factor, fine weather. The entries were larger this time than on any former occasion ; the racing was interesting and exciting, and the gathering was undoubtedly one of the most pleasant that has ever been held in the district. The work of the handicappers was on the whole most salisfacto y, and some excellent finishes were the result. Nearly all the Aucklauders who entered were present, and Ihe excursion train olto brought up a number of visitors from Auckland, Pukekohe, and oth: r stations along the line. At the lowest estimate the number of spectators must be put down at 600, and it was pleading to notice that quite half those present were ladies, who embraced the opportunity for a pleasant outing, and appeared to take the keenest interest in the spoit. The racing opened precise'y to time with the Maiden Handicap, in which half - a - dozen performers donntd the colours for the first time. It was won by Fred Hunt, who ha 3 shown a turn of speed on many occasions on the football field. The Maiden Bicycle Race attracted a large field of young riders, and F. Hobbs' win from the 20 yards mark was a most popular one. The ICO Yards Handicap unearthed a smart runner in T. H, Hinton, who won his heat from eleven yards in 10s dead, and the final in 9 4 oths s. Hinton arrived too late for the Maiden event, or he must surely have had a big chance. In the Half-mile Bicycle Race, C. L. Innes commenced his series of victories, and after a nice race, he won from Hob! sand King. Innes was the most successful rider on the ground, and he afterwards appropriated the One and a Half-mile Bicycle Race, and also the Championship of VVaikato. The Schoolboy's Race was well supported by the youngsters, and a splendid race ensued. L. O'Neill winning off the 10 yards mark from Hill and Forbes, who ran a dead heat for second place. The Halfmile Flat was a pretty race and the field was an exceedingly large one. The limit men cut out the pare until the last round, when H. J. Webber, of Auckland, came with a well-timed run and wen after a struggle from D. S. I?haw. The Ladies' Bracelet produced a good contest, the prize being captured by Geo. Davis, son of Mr Sylvester Davis, of this town. C. Speight was a good second, and but for being blocked in the straight must certainly have given the winner some trouble. The One and ahalf Mile Bicycle Race was undoubtedly the best wheel race of the day. Innes was leniently treated, being on the 115yds mark. He soon had his field well in hand, and when a mile had been traversed was at the head of affairs. As they came into the home turn for the last time, Dexter, who had been cutting his men down rapidly, drew level with the leader, and those who have witnessed his lightning-like finishes, thought the race was a foregone conclusion for him. Innes stuck to his task in a mosb determined manner, and stalling off the challenge of the little champion he drew away and won by half a wheel amid tremendous excitement. Only three ladies entered for the graceful riding competition, and Mr Dexter had the greatest difficulty in making his award. The mile flat, however, was the race of the day. A field of eight faced the, starter, and the four competitors on the 140 yards mark, Mawhinney, Hope, von Stunner and Edgeoutnbe, immediately set out with a will. When half-a-mile had been left behind Beere, off scratch, was seen to be gaining steadily on his men, but Shaw, who was going well, still maintained hia start from the scratch man. A couple of hundred yards from home Shaw collared his field, and Beere making a magnificent spurt carglit the leader in the last 100. A great struggle ensued, in which the popular long distance man defeated his opponent by a couple of yards. Shaw ran his race in the gamest possible manner ; he is a promising runner and will be heard of later on. Mr R. A. Dexter (New Zealand champion) gave a most interesting exhibition ride over a mile aud a-half, being paced alternately by Messrs Dey, Coomber, Innes and Coates. The pacing was not of a nature that induces rcco.d-breaking, and the time registered (2m. 32 4-sths s.) is not equal to some of this rider's previous performance'. Coates, on the strength of his Auckland form, was greatly fancied for the Mile Championship of Waibato ; but he did not ride with his accustomed dash, and after a great race Innes squeezed home by a couple of inches, Dey and Bowden running a eleael heat for third place. Mr G. B. Beare was chosen judge of the walking event, which was surrounded with a good deaf of interest on account of the first appearance in Waikato of the Australasian champion, D. Wilson. Dickey was present en the ground, but owing to indispos : tion did net start. The champion was asked to concede some appaling starts ; but it is a mest difficult job to fa : rly handicap a man who can put up tuch phenomenal times when he is pitted against competitors who have ne\er performed at the heel aud toe game before. Another thing that told ereatly agdnst him was the absence of a pacemaker, and had Creimer been there to burst him along we venture to predict that Wilson would have been close handy at the finish. Mawhinney led from the start with Low in hot pursuit, and this order was maintained until the men were half way up the straight. Here Lowe overhauled his man, and made several attempts to come up ou the inside. This he eventually succeedeel in accomplishing, but jostled the leader in passing him. Mawhinney foolishly broke and reached the tape first, but ran about twelve or fifteen yards to do so. The judge immediately elisqualified him, and placed Lowe first and Wilson second. Wilson was about fifty yards behind. Lowe's win was a popular one, and Wilson received qoite an ovation on completing his uphill journey. The time was 6m. 595. The meeting concluded with the three mile bicycle race, which R. A. Dexter won easily from scratch in the good time of Bmin. 10 3-sth sec. The arrangements in connection with the meeting were most complete and not the slightest hitch occurred during the day, all the events being ruti off strictly to time. The Hamilton Band, under Bandmaster Muuro, discoursed a number of charming airs, which were greatly appreciated. The following were the results : 100 Yards Maiden Handicap.—F. Hunt (6yds), 1 ; F. Hill (6yds),' 2 ; R. A. Wright (3yd*-), 3. There were six starters. Hunt won by a yard in lis. One Mile Maiden Bicycle Handi-cap.-F. Hobbs (20yds), 1 ; C. E. Bowden (scratch), 2 ; i±. C. Pond (40yds), 3. Ten started. Won by 10 yards. Time, 2m. 38s. 100 Yakds Handicap.—First heat: S. Teague (6vds), 1 ; J. Taylor (11yds), 2 ; J. Gilletr. (syds), 3. Time, 10 l-sth s. Second heat : F. Hunt (11yds), 1 ; G. M. Dodd (4yds), 2 ; G. McGhie (Byds), 3. Time, 10 3 sths s. Third heat: T. H, Hjntou (Uyds), i ; M, Wells (9yds),

2 ; \V. I. Taylor (scratch), 3. Final heat : T. H. Hinton (13yds), 1 ; M. Wells (9yds), 2 ; W. I. Taylor (scratch), 3. Half-mile Bicycle Rack.—First heat: F. Hobbs (70yds), 1 ; E. C. Kirk (90 yds), 2 ; H. C. Fond 180yds), 3. Time, lmin, 12 2-sth sec. Second heat: C. L. Innes (50yds), 1 ;*W. J. Munro (85yds), 2; W. King (70yds), 3, Time, lmin. 9tec. Final :0. L. Innes (50yds), I; F. Hobbs (70yds) 2 ; W. King (85yds), 3. Time, lmin. 7 2-sth sec. 150 Yares Schoolboys' Race.—L. O'Neill (10yds), 1 ; M. Forbes (3yds), J ; H. Hill (set), i Half-milk Flat Handicap.—H. J. Webber (18yds), 1 ; D. S. Shaw (10yds), 2 ; R. A. Wright (50yds). 3. Time, 2miu. 9sec. 300 Yards Ladies' Bracelet,—Fir*t heat: Geo. Davis (25yds), 1 ; J. Gillett (14yds), 2 ;C. Speight (22yds), 3. Time, 34 2-sth see. Second heat: S. Teague (18yds), 1 ; G. MeGhie (18yds), 2 : M. H. Quick (14yds), 3. Time, 35sec. Final: Geo. Davis (25yds), 1 ;C, Speight (22yds), 2 ; J. Gillett (14yds), 3. Time, 34 2-sth sec. 1£ Mile Bicycle Handicap.—C. L. Innes (115yds), 1 ; R. A. Dexter (scr), 2 ; H. A. Coates (40yds), 3. Time, 4min. 1 4-sth sec. Competition For Most Graceful Lady Rider.—Miss Cox, 1 ; Miss Maunder, 2 ; Miss Sargeson, 3. One Mile Flat.—G. B. Beere (scr.), 1 ;D. S. Shaw (20yda), 2 ; J. Mawhiuney (140yds), 3. Time, 4m. 52 3-sths s. One Mile Waikato Championship (Bicycle).-O. L. lunes, 1 ; H. A. Coates, 2 ;C. E. Bowden, t', W. Dey, J. Time, 2m. 445. One Mile. Walk.—J. Lowe (170yds), 1; D. Wilson (scr.), 2. Time, 6m. 595. Three Milk Bicycle Handicap.—R. A. Dexter (scr.), 1 ; C. E. Bowden (210 yds), 2 ; E. H. Billins (350yds), 3. Time, Bm. 16 2-sihs s.