1895 - London ... and Sheffield ... and Birmingham

Press Cuttings from 19th Century Newspapers
There are at least three races this year - but since one is billed as Twelve Days and another Eleven Days there could be more; even though the extra days could be short distance competitions.

Still that makes for 29 days of women’s indoor cycle racing between 18-November and the end of December - quite a schedule.

LADIES’ CYCLE RACE
Daily News (London, England) Tuesday 19-Nov-1895

“This event which will extend over twelve days commenced at the Royal Aquarium yesterday, the number of competitors necessitating their being started in sections. At the end of the first day’s riding the leading scores were as follows: ..... Miss Benham also started, but only went a short distance. Mrs Grace was put out of court in consequence of a severe fall. Each section yesterday rode for 3 1/2 hours. The race will resume to-day.”

THE LADIES’ CYCLE RACE AT THE ROYAL AQUARIUM
Daily News (London, England) Wedesday 20-Nov-1895

“Yesterday’s stage of this competition was productive of several exciting incidents. Some riders again came to grief, and there was something more than a suspicion that the falls of at least one of the riders (Miss Blackburn) was due to anything but an accident. Anyway, the incident resulted in Mdlle. Reillo and Mdlle. Solange being disqualified from riding again during the first section of the day’s racing. The best performances were those of Miss Harwood and Mdlle. Lisette Marton, each of whom completed 100 miles in 6h. 13m., Miss Hawrood leading Lisette by a couple of yards. The leading scores at the end of the day’s riding were as follows:
Miss Harwood, 124 miles 2 laps; Mdlle. Marton, 121 miles 5 laps; Mdlle Marcelle Vautro, 117 miles 6 laps; Miss Gamble, 116 miles 3 laps; Miss Blackburn, 115 miles 8 laps; Miss Lane, 114 miles 4 laps; Mdlle. Cannon [Cannoe], 112 miles 8 laps; Mdlle. Eteogella, 111 miles 4 laps; Mdlle. Letrille [Lutreille], 101 miles 2 laps; Mdlle. La Touche, 98 miles 6 laps; Mdlle. Reillo, 97 miles 8 laps; Mdlle. Solange, 96 miles 2 laps; Miss Hutton, 92 miles; Mrs Grace, 81 miles 7 laps. The racing will be resumed to-day.”

LADIES BICYCLE RACES
The Star (St Peter Port, Channel Islands) Thursday 21-Nov-1895
This is long but very legible report that gives more information than the others; for example the “colours” worn. However it does get some of the names wrong - Cannol [Cannoe], Lolange [Solange], Vetro [Vautro], etc

THE LADIES’ CYCLING RACE
Daily News (London, England) Thursday 21-Nov-1895

THE LADIES’ CYCLE RACE AT THE ROYAL AQUARIUM
Daily News (London, England) Friday 22-Nov-1895

THE LADIES’ CYCLE RACE AT THE ROYAL AQUARIUM
Daily News (London, England) Saturday 23-Nov-1895

LADY CYCLISTS AT THE AQUARIUM
Lloyds Weekly News (London, England) Sunday 24-Nov-1895

THE SIX DAYS’ CYCLE RACE
Daily News (London, England) Monday 25-Nov-1895

“The six days’ race for ladies, which had been in progress at the Westminster Aquarium during the week, was concluded on Saturday night [23-Nov-1895]. There was a very large attendance of spectators, and the prices to reserved portions of the building were greatly increased, some seats being sold at as much as a half a guinea and a guinea. Miss Harwood had obtained a good lead of Mdlle. Lisette earlier in the contest that it was very unlikely their relative positions would be altered, but they both frequently did some fast riding, and aroused the excitement of the spectators. Eventually the contest terminated at 10.40 p.m. the distances were as follows.....”

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL CYCLING RACE
Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales) Monday 25-Nov-1895

This report is a bit easier on the eye than most - and gives a better explanation of how the racing was organised.

However the promoters of the racing were billing this as part of the “Twelve Days Cycle Races” - and the advertisement in the Pall Mall Gazette (Monday 25-Nov-1895) also provides a bit more about the riders; with Voutre being shown instead of Vautro as the surname of the three sisters (?).

The same Mdlle. Lisette (?) in 1896 riding with the sponsorship of the  Simpson Lever Chain company - photo by Jules Beau

RACING AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News (London, England) Thursday 5-Dec-1895

“Yesterday saw the completion of the first half of the six days’ ladies’ race. A fair number of spectators were present, but the racing is not the attraction it was a fortnight ago. In her ride in Section A, Miss Dalley totally 149 miles 1 lap, and increased her lead from Miss Lane by 6 laps. Miss Harwood reappeared in Section B, in which Mrs Grace, Miss Gamble, Miss Blackburn, Mdlle Marcelle, and Mlle. Cannoe also ride. No change occurred in the two hours allotted, Mrs Grace totalling 157 miles 8 laps, one lap ahead of Cannoe, while Harwood left off with a total of 59 miles 8 laps. In Section A the second portion of the day’s task produced good riding Dalley, Palliarde, and Lane, the first-named leading at the close with 174 miles 2 laps, the other totals being Miss Lane 173 miles 5, Mlle Palliarde 172 miles 9, Mlles Beany 163 miles 8, Vautro 162 miles 4, Miss Field 122 miles 1, Mlles Abou Kaia 121 miles 5, La Touche 118 miles 5, Lutreille 115 miles 4. In Section B Miss Balckburn retired after a few miles. Miss Harwood made the pace very warrm, but fell heavily, and left the track for 16 minutes. Score at the close:- Mrs Grace 184 miles 8 laps, Mlle Cannoe 184 miles 7, Miss Gamble 182 5, Mlle Marcelle 178 miles 1, Miss Balckburn 161 miles 4, Miss Harwood 61 miles 6.”

SIX DAYS’ LADIES RACE
Daily News (London, England) Saturday 7-Dec-1895

FINISH OF THE SIX DAYS’ LADy CYCLISTS’ MATCH
Reynold’s News (London, England) Sunday 8-Dec-1895

LADIES SIX DAYS’ RACE
Yorkshire Herald (York, England) Monday 9-Dec-1895

This report provides a different result for the minor placings than the London version below.

THE LADIES RACE - VICTORY OF MDLLE. CANNAC
Daily News (London, England) Monday 9-Dec-1895

“The second six days race, which constituted the third week of wheeling events for women at the Royal Aquarium, came to an end on Saturday, in the presence of a large gathering, with the following result;-”

LADY CYCLISTS’ RACES AT BIRMINGHAM
Lloyds Weekly News Sunday 8-Dec-1895

“A cycle exhibition is to be held at Bingley Hall, Birmingham from Dec 16 to 21. Lady cyclists will compete daily for prizes, and there is also to be an international six days’ ladies’ bicycle race. Military bands will perform twice daily.”

According to the next reports the start was delayed until Tuesday (17 Dec) making this a five day race ...

CYCLING AT BINGLEY HALL
Birmingham Daily Post (England) Wednesday 18-Dec-1895

THE LADY CYCLISTS’ TOURNAMENT
Birmingham Daily Post (England) Monday 23-Dec-1895

LADIES CYCLE RACE AT SHEFFIELD More>>

Daily News (London, England) Wednesday 18-Dec-1895

“The ladies’ eleven days’ cycling race was resumed at the Royal Aquarium, the riders starting as before in two sections. The total riding time for each section was three and a half hours per day. The racing was good, but not sensational. When siding ceased for the day the leading scores were:- Mdlle. Palliarde, 118 miles 6 laps; Mdlle. Marcelle, 118 miles 3 laps; Miss Gamble, 118 miles 1 lap; Mme. Binay, 117 miles 3 laps; Miss Hutton, 116 miles 3 laps; Miss Field, 115 miles 5 laps; Mdlle. Beany, 111 miles 8 laps; and Miss Ward, 100 miles 9 laps.”

THE RACE AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News (London, England) Friday 20-Dec-1895

CYCLING AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News (London, England) Saturday 21-Dec-1895

“Yesterday the fifth day’s riding in the Eleven Days Race for females was proceeded at the Royal Aquarium. A nasty spill on the part of several competitors resulted in Mdlle. Vautro dislocating her shoulder, and she had to removed to the hospital. When the day’s riding was done the scores were as follows; Mdlle. Palliarde, 293 miles; Mdlle. Marcelle, 292 miles 7 laps; Mdlle. Binay, 292 miles; Miss Field, 280 miles 3 laps; Mdlle. Beany, 280 miles; Mrs. Ward, 278 miles 7 laps; Miss Gamble, 273 miles; Mlle. Denise, 265 miles; Miss Gambley, 255 miles 8 laps; Miss Pattison, 233 miles 6 laps; Mdlle. Vautro, 233 miles 3 laps; Miss Hindes, 226 miles 9 laps; Miss Hutton, 208 miles 9 laps.” - but these distances are hard to make out.

THE LADIES’ RACE AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News (London, England) Monday 23-Dec-1895

“The eleven days’ ladies’ cycling race was continued at the Westminster Aquarium on Saturday, when Miss Gamble, who retired hurt on Friday, was again absent, and is, in fact, unlikley to take any further part in the contest. The scores at the close were: ...”

THE LADIES’ RACE AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News (London, England) Monday 30-Dec-1895