Field officers: Referee, Howard P. Merrill; judges, C. S. Howard, W. G. Kendall and George H. Burt; timers, F. G. Whitmore, C. T. Stuart and J. H. Parker; starter, H. H. Chapman; clerk, Henry Goodman.
THE Essex Club, of Newark, which has been in existence since May, 1879, and is known as “Old Essex,” resumed its runs, which were discontinued during July and August, in the last days of September. The organization is one of the pioneers of cycling, and is the third oldest club in the National League of American Wheelmen. Stone House Plains, South Orange and Irvington, Avondale, Roselle, Rahway, and Montclair were visited during October. The programme for this month, so far as arranged, is a run to Montrose, and on the 6th a run to Caldwell and Parsippany, to Morris Plains Asylum, thence to Morristown, and return, via Madison, home.
MR. FRANK I. STOTT, secretary of the New York Bicycle Club, has issued a call for the formation of a wheelman’s bowling league, for inter-club contests during the ensuing winter. The idea is an excellent one, and replies from the Long Island Wheelmen, Harlem Wheelmen, King’s County Wheelmen, Atlantas of Newark, and Hudson County Wheelmen of Jersey City, have already been received, favoring the affair, and promising their support and play, so that a close and spirited contest for supremacy may be looked for, and the success of the affair is assured. By this means not only is a more perfect acquaintance between neighboring clubs arrived at, but the winter, the dull season in wheeling, is pleasantly employed.
THE New York Bicycle Club took possession of their newly-erected west end club-house on September 1st. The building is beyond question the most costly ever constructed for a cycling club-house, representing as it does an expenditure of nearly $45,000 exclusive of furniture and interior decorations. The club and their new home are both a credit to the sport, and speak volumes for the permanency of wheeling interest.
THE feeling of dissatisfaction against the League of American Wheelmen that has for some time existed in Brooklyn, has taken form in the organization of “The Cyclists’ Union of Long Island.” The Union proposes to devote itself to the protection and development of Long Island cycling, and will be purely local in its scope and action. The charter members are: Messrs. J. B. Huggins, G. W. Mabie, C. A. Bradford, C. Newberg, M. L. Bridgeman, M. Furst, H. Greenman, H. E. Raymond, W. J. Clark, and L. G. Wilder. The C. U. L. I. declares itself as not being in any way antagonistic to the L. A. W.
THE mileage of the New York Bicycle Club for the eight months ending September 1st was 35,269, of which 36 men rode 8,093 in August. George M. Nesbit leads with a total of 5,039 for the year, 1,219 of which was made in August. His longest day’s ride was 162 miles, and his average per riding day in the 1,219 miles was 44 3-5 miles. W. E. Findley follows with a total to date of 2,794, 590 being credited to him for August. His longest ride in one day was 134 miles, and his record of 132 days’ riding without a break is record. J. M. Andreni rode 406 miles in August on a tricycle, bringing his record for the year up to 1,285. Irving M. Shaw shows 145 miles done in one day, with a total for the year of 1,763. The figures in the above are beyond question, as they are those on which the club’s prizes for mileage of 1888 will be awarded. Nesbit’s total and Findley’s 132 days of consecutive riding are notable performances. All of the gentlemen named are in active business, and have accomplished these performances for purely recreative purposes, after business hours.
THE most important event in the cycling world in the West was the inter-State tournament which has closed its three days’ session in Kansas City, September 9th. The track was rough, and fast time was not made nor expected.
The first race, the one-mile Kansas State championship, was won by A. Joseph Henley, of Wichita; Harry Gordon, of St. Louis, took the first prize in the one-mile hurdle; in the three-mile handicap, Percy Stone, of St. Louis, took first prize, and Nelson T. Haynes of Kansas City, second; in the one-mile club championship, open only to Kansas City United Wheelman, Mr. Haynes took the handsome cup presented by the Pope Manufacturing Company. One of the fastest races was the two-mile lap race, which was won by Percy Stone, of St. Louis; Harry Gordon, second. The one-mile handicap was won by Percy Stone; Frank Mehlig, of St. Louis, second. An important race was the three-mile Kansas State championship, which was won by A. Joseph Henley. The half-mile race, with hands off, was won by Harry Gordon; John A. De Tar, of Kansas City, second; the one-mile Missouri State championship was won by John Hogden, of St. Louis; the three-mile Missouri State championship was won by Percy Stone, as was also the two-mile team race, which secured for him a handsome silver cup. The tournament closed with a banquet at the Midland, which was a grand affair, and healed many wounds that had been received during the three days’ contest.
THE cycling clubs of New Orleans enrolled in the Louisiana division of the L. A. W., gathered in Audubon Trotting Park, September 27, for the fourth annual race meeting. Two thousand ladies graced the grand stand. The officers of the course were Harry H. Hodgson, chief consul, referee. Judges: F. C. Fenner, J. M. Gore, R. W. Abbott, C. H. Fenner, B. F. Albertson. Timers: P. M. Hill, J. C. O’Reardon, W. L. Hughes. Starter: Edward A. Shields. Clerk: C. M. Fairchild.
The following is a summary of the results: