ANNUAL RACE MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume X, Issue 2343, 31 March 1891, Page 2

ANNUAL RACE MEETING.

„ The annual race meeting of the Ashburton Cycling Club was held in the Domain yesterday. In spite of Captain Edwin's gloomy foreboding as to storms and tempests the weather was most favourable—very little wind, and not too much warmth—the day, in fact, was all that could be wished, and the general joke at Captain Edwin's expense Avas the Yankee one that " you should never prophesy unless you know." In consequence of tho good Aveather, as Avell as the expected good sport, the attendance of the public was large, quite 1500 people having been present on the ground. The provision made for the supply of refreshments was ample, Mrs Ranger having her usual booth in a sheltered corner, and receiving a fair amount of patronage. The proximity of the grounds to the town seems to make the presence of a publican's booth unnecessary, and this is now the tliiid large gathering that has been held in the Domain successfully without a publican's booth. The Ashburton Brass Baud occupied a place near the cricket pitch, and played selections of music during the day with their accustomed ability. For the ten bicycle events on the card no less than thirty-four individual competitors entered. Five of the riders were from the North Canterbury Bicycle Club, five from the Pioneer, one from the N.Z, Cyclists*Alliance, one from the Waimate Cycling Club, one from the Timaru Tourists' Club, five from the Bicycle Touring Club (Christchurch), and the remainder Avere members of the Ashbur- | ton Cycling Club. The three-mile A.C.C. ' Championship was a race in which some local interest Avas taken, but it Avas a gift to Bennetts, who played with Thompson, and made a close finish by winning by two feet. The Five Mile Roadster Handicap Avas also woii by our local crack ; and the Ten-Mile Bicycle Handicap, I after a toughly fought contest fell to jE. J. Craighead, another local rider. This win was as popular as it was unexpected. Owing to the handicapper having been under a misapprehension as to Clarkson's machine he was rehandicapped at 500 yards. Craighead began slowly, but soon joined the others Avho started from the same mark, Fitzhenry by repeated spurts forcing the pace. Salek was caught in the fourth mile, and ■ the other four Avent on in close order with Craighead in the lead, Fitzhenry continuing to force the running, Clarkson, during the next couple of miles, took a feeler or tAvo, and seeming to hold the others safe was content to ride along in the rear. Entering upon the last mile, hoAvever, Craighead drew about thirty yards aAvay from the others, and Avheh Clarkson in the last lap made his effort— amid great excitement—Craighead was able to respond, and Clarkson's machine skidding r„t the turn into the straight the local man just managed to get first home. Enthusiastic cheering greeted the winner, and he was carried shoulder high to the tent. W. J. S. Hay ward, on his pneu-matic-tired safety carried off the ThreeMile Roadster Handicap in capital style, and rode a good race in the Two-Mile Bicycle Handicap to young Alfred Curtis who rode under the Waimate Club's colours. The last-named had previously carried off the Mile Maiden Roadster Handicap, and his brother Reginald scored a clever win in the Obstacle Race. Bennetts, besides the successes already noted, had the Two-Mile Roadster Handicap comfortably Avon, but easing up ere the post was passed, allowed Thompson to make a dead heat Avith him. The eA rent was not run off, and no intimation was made as to the apportionment of the prizes. A Consolation Handicap avms added to the programme, and was a gift to Fitzhenry, Avho Avell deserved it for his plucky, though scarcely judicious riding during the day. The foot-races Avere poorly contested. Messrs A. Har- f rison and E. Kempthorne acted as judges ; MrD. Thomas as starter; Messrs A. Lowry and W. G. Murray as time-keepers; Mr E. F. Wright as referee ; and Messrs A. J. Midler, W. G. Murray and H„ H. Stephens Avere the handicappers, and allaquitted themselves well. The arrangements were of the primitive nature usually seen at country sports, but everything passed off without a hitch except that through somebody's blunder Un framing the card most of the events Avk*e run before the stated time. The following are details :—: Maiden Roadster Handicap; one mile.—A. Curtis, jun., (W.C.C.), scr, 1 ; A. Mullaney (A.0.C.), 200yds, 2 ; C. G. Moss (A.C.C), 200yds, 3. Forbes (8.T.C.), 25yds ; Waller (P.B.C) 10yds : Price (8.T.C.) 50yds ; Crone (P.8,.C), 50yds ; A. G. Will jams (Alliance), 50yds ; J, Scott (A.C.C), 75yds; R. Curtis) (A.C.C). 75yds; and A. E. Matthews (A.C.C), also started. Moss and Mul- j laney held the lead alternatively for three i

lam, Aviih R, Curtis close up. Entering the last lap A. Curtis went to the front and won by ten yards from JVTullaney, Moss third. Time—3min 2 and 2-sth'sec. Roadster Handicap; three miles.— W. J. S. Havward (P.80.), ser, 1; J. Is. Clarkson (B.T.C), 100yds, 2; E. J. Craighead (A.C.C), 200yds, 3. A. H. Thompson (N.C.B.C), 100yds; W. Suckwood (N.C.B.C), 150yds; A. J. Bo ly (A CO.), 200yds ; also started. The -limit-men kept-the lead for several laps when E, Craighead and Clarkson forged ahead and led alternatively up to the ninth lap. Clark-on then dashed forward and took the load, fohWed by Hayward, who 100 yards from hon,« Avent to the front with a splendid spurt and wph by twenty yards. Time —9min 35sec. Lambs' Bracelet ; one mile.—W. F. Bennetts (A.C.C), 150yds, 1; 0, G. Moss (A.C.C), 350yds, 2; J. Scott (A.C.C) 230yds. 3. W. J. S. Hay ward (P.B.C ), 50vds ; E. K Fitzhenry (B.T.C), 100yds;. ,J."B. Clarkson (B.T.C), 100yds; J. Whelau (T. L\C.», 150yds; A. Curtis (W.CC), 160yds ; W. P. Waller (P.B.C) 170yds ; J. Forbes (B.T.C); 200yds : also started. Time— 2min 43 and 4-sth sec. Handicap Foot Race, 120 Yards.— S. Salek, 10yds, 1; A. Pilbrow, syds, 2 ; R. Shearman, Byds, 3. Won by a yard; a yard separating the. others. Time, 13 sees. I A.C.C Championship, three miles.— W. F. Bennetts, 1; H. Thompson, 2. E, J. Craighead and H. Stewart also started. All the riders were on roadster machines. Bennetts and Thompson quickly assumed a strong lead, but Bennetts was simply playing with Thompson, securing Mt H 'H."Stephens' special prize by passing the post first ten times, Thompson securing the other two on sufferance, and Bennetts winning by a couple of feet without being called on for an effort. Craighead retired in the ninth, and Stewart in the last lap. Time, lOmins. 6secs. , Obstacle Race, two laps, (competitors to dismount, pick up an object and ride" to post),-R. Curtis, A.C.C, 1 ; A. R. Barker, B.T.C, 2 ; T. Wall, A.C.C, 3. Curtis was the only competitor who handled his obstacle—a sack of shavings —cleverly, and Avon by a long way. Foot Race, 220 Yards.—A. Pilbrow, scr, 1 ;S. Salek, 2yds, 2 ; R. Shearman, 6yds, 3. A good race ; won by a yard. Time, 26 2 otlis sees. Roadster Handicap ; five miles.— W. F. Bennetts (A.C.C), 250yds, 1 ; J. Whelan (T.T.C), 250yds, 2 ; E. E. Fitzhenry (B T.C), 250yds, 3. W. J. S. Hay ward (B. B. C), scr ; A. H. Thompson (N.C.B.C), 200yds ; G. A. Olttk (B.T.C) 250yds, also started. Thompson, Clark, and Hayward dropped out before the eailier laps of the fifth mile had been covered, and Fitzhenry was soon afterwards left behind. Bennetts made the semblance of a race of it with Whelan, the two alternately passing each other, but in the last lap the local man put on a spurt, and av"u with comparative ease, by about twenty yards. Time, l7min 4sec. The Avinner was heartily cheered, and carried shoulder high from the track. Bicycle Handicap; two miles.—A. Curtis (W.CC), 250yds, 1 ; W. Hayward (P.B.C), 90yds, 2 ; J. Whelan (T.T.C), 200yds 3. J."B.Clarkson(B.T.C),2ooyds ; A. *J. Body (A.C.C), 250yds ; and H. Thompson (A;C.C). 250yds, also started. Thompson and Body soon retired, but Curtis, the Waimate-Ashbu.rton man, took command and ultimately proved"a popular Avinner, Hayward and Whelan fighting out a grand tussle for second place,.which was secured by the former with but little to spare. Time, 6min 59secs. Handkmp Foot Rack; 440yds—R. Shearman, 20yds, 1 ; S. Salek, 10yds, 2. Shearman avoii easily by 10yds. Time, 59secs. Roadster Handicap ; one mile.—A R. Barker (B.T.C), 250yds, 1 ; K, Curtis (A.CO.), 225yds, 2 ; T. Wall (A.C.C), 175yds, 3. G. A. Clark (13 T.C), 150yds; W Stack wood (M.CB.C), 150yds; 11. "SteAvart (A.C.C), 175yds; J. Forbes (B.T.C), 200yds; A. H. Mullaney (A.C.C), 300yds; 0. G, Moss (A.C.C); also started. Time, 2.47. In the second lap only Curtis, Barker, and Wall were left in if, and Curtis seemed as if he were to win flying, but Barker collared him 70yds from home, and beat him on the post, Wall third. Bicycle Handicap ; ten miles.—E.J. Craighead (A.C.C.), 500yds, 1; J. B. Clarkson (B.T.C), 500yds, 2 ; J. Whelan (T.T.C), WOyds, 3. E. F.. f Fitzhenry (B.T.C), 500yds, and S. Salek (A.C.C), 1200yds, also started. Salek's 1200yds advantage was worked off in the fourth mile, but he stuck to the course until he was again lapped before he finally retired^ Fitzhenry, Whelan, and Clarkson ran together, with Craighead one hundred yards behind until the fourth mile. Here Craighead closed upon the others, and in ; the seventh mile they were all riding together, passing and re-passing each other. In the next mile Craighead gained a burst of cheers, as having passed the others lie came along the straight. In the course of the next mile the positions j of the men ; varied often, and in the last lap, Whelan and Fitzhenry, evidently beaten, dropped to the rear, Craighead i by this time holding a lead of thirty yards. Clarkson settled down to collar him, and got on terms at the bottom end, but the local man drew away again and rode in a winner by less than a machine's length, after a most exciting finish. Time, 34 mins 29secs. (Private watches made it a minute less.) The winner received the usual honors. Roadster Handicap ; two miles.— W. F. Bennetts, (A.C.C), 50yds, and H. Thompson, (A.C.C), 100yds, dead heat, 1; A. R. Barker (B.T.CA 200yds, 3. T. Wall, (A.CC), 120yds; W. Stackwood, (N.C.B C), 50yds, and A. G. Williams, (Alliance), 150yds, also star ted. Bennetts and Thompson soon raced aAvay from the others, and the race apparently narrowed itself down to a question of how much the former Avould win by, but he eased at the finish and a dead heat was the result. Time, 6min 9 4-sth sees. Consolation Handicap; one mile.— E. E. Fitzhenry, (B.T.C), scr, 1 ; H. Stewart (A GC)., syds, 2; P. Crone, (P.B.C), 50yds, 3. Fitzhenry caught his men in the first lap, and left them in the last lap, winning by a couple of yards from SteAvart, avlio came with a great run at the finish. Time, 3min. 32secs. During an interval, A, 01 Wilmot, the well-known North Canterbury cyclist, who happens to be somewhat at a difference with the Alliance on the matter jof amateurism, and did not run in any Jof the events, attempted to break the roadster half-mile record. Tw6 pace-makers (H. Thompson and A. Craighead) were appointed, but at the start Craighead's tire came off, and Whelan took his place. Thompson had a spill in the second try, but Wilmot Avent on, and made the halfmile in lmin. 25secs. a second over the time he wished to attain, A one-mile tandem record followed Wilmot's effort, Adams and Forbes being , the riders on the double midline. Their [ record for the mile was 3mir.s. 3 l-fjbh sees—not a very low speed. '