“A great 26 hours bicycle contest was commenced on Saturday at the Aberdeen Recreation Grounds. £40 is given in prize money. Some good men have entered, and, judging from the work which was done on Saturday, the race will be a very interesting one.Of the entries, Cleminson and Tyre have been in a great many 6 days’ races, but the others are new to the long distance. The track was very heavy on Saturday, and would be the better of a few hours’ rolling down to make it hard and level. The men were sent on their journey at 4:40, Cleminson taking the lead. Wilson, had a nasty fall in the first lap, but remounted his machine a short time afterwards. When one mile had been covered Dick also fell, and got a good shaking, but soon after remounted. Some very fine racing took place during the evening, notably between Symington and Cleminson; and it would not be a great surprise to see Symington in the premier position on Saturday first. Trewick, Dick, Thomson, and Tyre also ran very well; but the heavy track soon told upon them. However, the three hours will suit them better than the long distance, and there will no doubt be a great race during the week. At the call of time on Saturday (9:30), the following were the distances:-”
|
Miles
|
Laps
|
J. Cleminson, Cramlington
|
66
|
6
|
H. Symington, Durham
|
66
|
1
|
R. Trewick, Morpeth
|
63
|
9
|
M. Dick, Newcastle
|
63
|
0
|
J. Thomson, Seghill
|
63
|
0
|
W. Tyre, Byker
|
60
|
15
|
G. Wilson, Sunderland
|
57
|
4
|
|
“The track is 16 laps to three miles. There was a large attendance, over 1000 persons being present; and an excellent brass band was in attendance. Mr W. G. Begley, London, is starter and referee.”
So this makes the track size 330 yards (16 laps = 3x1760 yards = 5280 yards) or 301.75 metres. And clearly the track has an uneven grass or earth surface. A sort of seven day cyclo-cross on a fixed gear “ordinary” ......
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