CYCLING CIRCLES. - The San Francisco Call, 21 May 1894
CYCLING CIRCLES.
Annual League Meeting Next Saturday.
Five Interesting Events Arranged for a Thirty-five Mile Run to Centerville Yesterday.
The local wheelmen are making elaborate preparations for the annual league meeting of Northern California district, which is to be held at the Midwinter Fair track on next Saturday. George P. Wetmore, the chairman of the cycling committee for the occasion, reports having received a large number of entries, and there is a general feeling among the interested ones that the several events will be of an unusually interesting character, judging from the virulence of the record-breaking fever that has broken out among the wheel-whirlers of late.
There are to be five events, as follows: Class A, one-mile race for novices and one-half mile handicap race. Class B, one-mile championship race, two-mile handicap and one-quarter-mile dash. The contestants in filing their entries are obliged to name the last two events in which they competed and give date and particulars. Class A is limited to riders that reside in this State or live within 200 miles of this city, and the prizes for which do not exceed $50. Class B includes races that have prizes exceeding $50 in value and which are open to any rider, under Class B definition, according to L. A. W. rules. The entries were closed yesterday, but they will have to pass the inspection of the committee.
The racing at the fair track on Saturday was the chief tople of gossip at the rooms of the Bay City Wheelmen yesterday and it developed one thing and that is that the wheelmen are of a very forgiving disposition as regards the rather careless manner in which the fair managers treated the details of the tournament. They were all willing to admit that if it had not been for the flower fiesta they would have received better attention. Even T. P. Robinson was forgiven and all agreed that if he had not been mounted upon a horse which was addicted to the habit of stopping every ten yards of so to reflect upon some suddenly remembered event of his early youth better time might have been made across the grounds and the gallant colonel would bave arrived in ample time to have started the ball.
"Goody" Goddard of the Bay Citys came in for considerable sympathy yesterday from his fellow-wheelmen regarding his adventure Saturday. He had entered his maiden race and had high hopes of tying, if not breaking a record, but he only came in fourth. He claimed, though, that he was perfectly satisfied with the position which he had gained. It was whispered that Goddard had only been "playing" his competitors, and had purposely refrained from taking first position, because he was playing for points on their movements, which he could only get by remaining in the rear. Having them sized up, he fully intended to take a good week's rest, then - well, next Saturday would tell the tale as to what he would do then.
In order to keep in good condition for this week Goddard yesterday led a party of the Bay Citys on a "butterfly run" down to Centerville, a distance of thirty-five miles. Those in the party under General Goddard were: A. Kenzle, S. D. Vincent, T. A. Griffith, E. D. Roach, C. M. Nutter, A. W. Small, H. F. Trimble and W. H. Hallett.
Wilbur F. Knapp made quite a hit at Saturday's tournament as an announcer. Hitherto L. A. Larsen bas been looked upon as the champion in that line, but in his absence on Saturday Knapp displayed vocal powers that would have done credit to a fog siren.
B. D. Bent, the photographer of the Bay Citys, started on a three days' trip to Santa Cruz yesterday, and is expected to return with some select views to add to the club's album.
There will be a meeting of the captains of the various cycling clubs of the city on Tuesday night at the Olympic Club rooms to arrange for a grand joint union run some time next month.
E. W. S. Van Slayke returned yesterday from a wheeling tour through the southern part of the State. He had been gone three weeks.
