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1896 - London

Press Cuttings from 19th Century Newspapers

PennyIllust18961205Sat

Even though we now know that an extensive programme of women’s races in London only finished on Saturday 28-Dec-1895 - more races are reported in January 1896. In fact the first report for 3-Jan-1896 has both men and women racing on two different indoor tracks in London - Olympia and Westminster Aquarium. Olympia was holding separate 1 and 2 mile races - with the Vautro sisters competing in the ladies races and the men’s field including riders from Belgium, France and Germany. While the Aquarium was holding a men’s six day plus handicapped mixed races over 15 and 18 miles.

This is the report for the Aquarium racing from - Daily News Friday 3-Jan-1896

DailyNews18960103FriThis is a men’s Six Day of 6 1/2 hours per day plus various ladies races.

Olympia’s racing programme continued with riders from America, Italy and Holland being added to the field. Again some ladies who had competed in the 1895 “Eleven Days” race were racing there. Meanwhile back at the Aquarium a ladies six day had started -  Daily News Tuesday 7-Jan-1896

DailyNews18960107Tue1st Ladies Six of 1896

Now the racing programme gets even more busy as Olympia’s racing programme continues but some riders manage to compete at the Aquarium at the same time. And the ladies six day gets reorganised into two classes due to the superiority of the top three -  Daily News Wednesday 8-Jan-1896

DailyNews18960108Wed

Daily News Friday 10-Jan-1896

DailyNews18960110Fri

CYCLING AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News Saturday 11-Jan-1896

“Yesterday being the last day but one for all cycling events at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, during the present season, the attendance was more numerous than ever. Owing to the non-arrival of Miss Gamble, the start in Class II was delayed for some time, and eventually the riders in this section were despatched without her. Miss Gamble turned out later, but had lost several miles in the meantime. The scores at the finish of the day’s racing were as follows:-
Class II (1 hour) - Miss Gambley, 164 miles 2 laps, Miss Pattison, 164 miles 2 laps; Mrs Ward, 163 miles 6 laps; Miss Gamble, 160 miles 6 laps.
Class I (2 1/2 hours) - Mrs Grace, 385 miles 1 lap; Mdlle Cannac, 383 miles 9 laps; Miss Blackburn 379 miles 8 laps.
Class II (2 hours) - Miss Gambley, 196 miles 4 laps; Miss Pattison, 196 miles 4 laps; Mrs Ward 195 miles 8 laps; Miss Gamble, 176 miles 7 laps, Pattison was evidently content to wait on Gambley and reserve her effort for a later issue.
Class I (2 1/2 hours) - Mrs Grace 427 miles 5 laps; Mdlle Cannac, 426 miles 3 laps; Miss Blackburn, 422 miles 2 laps.”

Graphic18960111SatClearly Miss Gamble and Miss Gambley were different riders!

RACING AT THE AQUARIUM
This time the reporter has provided vital missing information - first names for some of the competitors... even though Miss Clare is more likely to be GAMBLE.
Daily News Monday 13-Jan-1896

“The final day’s racing in the long-distance contests for ladies took place at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, on Saturday, before a large attendance.

Pos

Class I (30 Hours)

Miles

Laps

1

Mrs GRACE

513

9

2

Mdlle Marie CANNAC

512

7

3

Miss Rosina BLACKBURN

503

6

 

Class II (15 Hours)

 

 

1

Miss Jessie GAMBLEY

245

5

2

Miss Zelie PATTISON

245

5

3

Mrs WARD

245

3

4

Miss Clare GAMBLEY

206

1

Mddle. Cannac (Class I) was unfortunate in losing a lot of ground on Wednesday by changing machines, and gave Mrs. Grace a substantial lead, which advantage the last-named maintained to the finish. In Class II the racing between Miss Pattison and Miss Gambley was very keen throughout the week, neither having more than a few yards lead at any point of the race, and eventually, after a splendid struggle Miss Pattison was defeated by a bare length. Results: Six Day’s Race ...”

So the winter racing season at the Aquarium seems to have finished here - but at Olympia regular racing continued until at least 11 February 1896. And on 19 March racing at Olympia resumed with the comment that C F Barden had “won a two miles race in the afternoon”, scoring his “50th win in this building”. However on the same day it was reported that a new track at the Royal Agricultural Hall had opened. “The track, which will compare favourably with any other under cover in this country, measures eight laps to the mile. The racing is free from any suspicion of showdom, the officials being members of the National Cyclists’ Union, whilst the value of the prizes - which, of course, are in cash - is published in the programme.”

This meant that there were three separate indoor velodromes in use in London in 1896.

 

And the Westminster Aquarium was the venue for the next ladies’ six day race. As per this report - Daily News Tuesday 28-Apr-1896

DailyNews18960428Tue2nd Ladies Six of 1896

SIX DAYS’ CYCLING RACE
Daily News Wednesday 29-Apr-1896

DailyNews18960429WedAlso today the indoor racing at Olympia continued - and the outdoor track at Kensal Rise was being used for races by the National Athletic and Cycling Club.

LADIES’ CYCLING RACE
Daily News Saturday 2-May-1896

DailyNews18960502SatThis report of the race position on Friday seems to out compared to the result in the Penny Illustrated. Mdlle. Cannac / Cannoe has 312 miles here but 428 miles later. Based on the earlier distances there seems to be a two day gap between the two reports.

Penny Illustrated Paper (London, England) Saturday 2 May 1896

PennyIllust18960502Sat1

“The French lady cyclist winning the week-race at the Westminster Aquarium”; the illustration states “The Last Lap - Mdlle Lisette wins with 437 miles”. And the report reads -
“Cycling at the Westminster Aquarium during last week scarcely met with the amount of success that had doubtless been desired, if not expected, though there was a very large and enthusiastic company at the “Summer and Winter Garden” on Saturday night to witness the closing stage of the six days’ ladies’ international race. The liberality of the management in the matter of prizes had induced some exceptionally good riders to enter, but unfortunately circumstances of an accidental character robbed the affair of a certain amount of interest. Italy’s fine and large representative had, perforce, to retire early; she who desire to uphold the honour of America met with an accident on the first day; and Mdlle. [Helene] Dutrieux, holder of the one-hour world’s record for ladies, found her machine ill adapted to the track, and did not do much on the bicycle she subsequently used, if one or two displays of speedy riding be excepted. Despite the altered plan of the track, falls were numerous. Yet admirable performances were accomplished.

Pos

Rider

Miles

Laps

1

Mdlle Lisette MARTON

437

7

2

Miss [Monica] HARWOOD

429

3

3

Mdlle CANNOE

428

5

4

Miss [Rosa] BLACKBURN

414

2

5

Mdlle Marcelle VAUTRO

411

5


Mdlle. Lisette the French Champion who won, covered 437 miles 7 laps, and so beat the the ladies’ record for twenty-four hours riding; Miss Harwood, an English girl, who met with success on a previous occasion, was second with 429 miles 3 laps; and then followed Mdlle. Cannoe, 428 miles 5 laps; Miss Blackburn 414 miles 2 laps; and Mdlle. Marcelle Vautro 411 miles 5 laps. Another race of similar description is going on this week.”

3rd Ladies Six of 1896

A report of this second race appears in the Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad (6-May-1896) and gives the progress in this zesdaagschen wieler-wedstrijd voor dames, of 3 1/2 hours per day, at the Royal Aquarium as - Section A: Mrs. Ward, 351 miles 7 laps; Miss Spink, 346 miles; Miss Jameson, 343 miles 8 laps; Mlle. Beany [Vautro] 322 miles 3 laps. Section B: Mll. Cannac, 373 miles 9 laps; Mlle. Marcelle Vautro, 372 miles 4 laps; Miss Gavette, 340 mile 4 laps; Mlle. Fanoche Vautro, 312 miles 3 laps.

As yet no further reports of this race have been found. However this was not the last Ladies’ Six Day in 1896.

Pall Mall Gazette (London) Wednesday 18-Nov-1896

PallMallGaz18961118Wed4th Ladies Six of 1896

Pall Mall Gazette (London) Thursday 19-Nov-1896

PallMallGaz18961119Thu

LADY CYCLIST RACES AT THE ROYAL AQUARIUM
Illustrated Police News (London) Saturday 28-Nov-1896

IllustPoliceN18961128Sat

LADY CYCLISTS AT THE AQUARIUM
The Standard (London, England) Monday 30-Nov-1896

Standard18961130Mon

Mlle. Dutrieux an Easy Winner
The Referee and Cycle Trade Journal (Chicago & New York, USA) 17-Dec-1896

At the Royal Aquarium Saturday the twelve day international race for women reached its finish before a large number of spectators. As was anticipated Mlle. Dutrieux scored an easy win with 785 miles 3 laps, leading her opponents by fifteen miles. Her mileage is equivalent to an average pace of eighteen and two-thirds miles an hour during the twenty-four stages of one and a half and two hours respectively, amounting to forty-two hours. Mile. Eglee took second place with 769 miles 9 laps, beating Miss Harwood by one lap. This lap was lost early last week and despite her utmost efforts. Miss Harwood could not get away from the French girl, who responded spurt for spurt day after day. This incident furnished the only exciting feature in the race. Miss Blackburn was a modest fourth with 756 miles, due to faintings and falls, while Marcelle Vautro had to rest content with fifth place. The Aquarium management was well satisfied with the public support accorded to the racing, which will be extended to the end of the year. This week a series of relay or team races is being ridden by women, extending over eight hours a day. At the moment of writing the highest individual score is Miss Lane's 140 miles 8 laps, and the leading team, No. 3, consisting of Blackburn, Tyler and Anderson; total of scores, 276 miles 8 laps. The riders in each team number three, and are under the control of one of their number acting as captain. These races will continue to Dec. 12.

Pos

Rider

Miles

Laps

1

Mlle [Helene] DUTRIEU

785

2

2

Mlle EGLEE

769

9

3

Miss [Monica] HARWOOD

769

8

4

Miss [Rosa] BLACKBURN

756

8

5

Mrs WARD

723

2

6

Mlle Marcelle VAUTRO

636

7

7

Miss PATTISON

551

5

8

Miss LANE

551

4

9

Mlle DEVERNEUIL

439

6

10

Mlle PALLIARDE

408

7

11

Mlle Beany [VAUTRO]

369

7

 

Miss BAILEY

 

 

RELAY RIDE AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News Tuesday 1-Dec-1896

DailyNews18961201Tue5th Ladies Six of 1896

Now this looks to me like the original team-based six day race - in a three-woman team format. And since the first team-based six day race is often quoted as being the 1899 race at Madison Square Garden, New York then this may turn out to be the first ...in ... the ... w-w-world!

 

Pall Mall Gazette (London) Thursday 3-Dec-1896

PallMallGaz18961203Thu

RELAY RIDE AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News (London) Saturday 5-Dec-1896

DailyNews18961205SatThis clipping is very poor quality - but it does give the details of the make-up of each team by name plus the colours.

LADY CYCLISTS’ RACE AT THE AQUARIUM
Ipswich Journal (England) Saturday 5-Dec-1896

IpswichJ18961205SatThis clipping refers to the race before the “Relay” race - the second 6 days of the 4th race for 1896. The subject of the illustration at the top.

FINISH OF NOVEL LADIES’ CYCLE RACE
Reynold’s News (London) Sunday 6-Dec-1896

ReynondsNews18961206Sun

Pos

Team - Riders

Miles

Laps

1

White Team (no. 1)

 

 

 

Mdlle DEVERNEUIL

319

1

 

Mdlle Marcelle VAUTRO

311

2

 

Mdlle Beany VAUTRO

216

5

 

Total

846

8

2

Blue Team (no. 3)

 

 

 

Miss BLACKBURN

447

1

 

Miss ANDERSON

339

1

 

Miss TYLER

59

6

 

Total

845

8

3

Red Team (no. 4)

 

 

 

Miss FARRAR

421

1

 

Miss PATTISON

401

3

 

Miss JAMESON

22

4

 

Total

844

8

4

Yellow Team (no. 2)

 

 

 

Miss LANE

365

5

 

Miss GARETT

309

8

 

Miss AUSTEN / ASTINS

161

8

 

Total

836

5

SCORCHERINOS AT THE AQUARIUM
The Referee and Cycle Trade Journal (Chicago & New York, USA) 24-Dec-1896

Six-Day International Race for Women the Latest Notes from London
Dec. 9 - At the Royal Aquarium the inter-team races for women came to a conclusion last Saturday. The winners turned up in No. 1 team, consisting of Deverneuil, Marcelle Vautro and Beany Vautro, whose aggregate total for the week was 846 miles 8 laps. This team won $100. There were also three prizes for individual scores made during the week. These latter were awarded as follows: Blackburn, $45, for highest total, 447 miles 1 lap; Farrar, $15, second prize, for 421 miles 1 lap; Pattison $15, third prize, for 401 miles 3 laps. This week a six-day international race has been in progress, the competitors including Harwood, Blackburn and Pattison ( England) and Marcelle Vautro, Beany Vautro, Eglee and Palliarde (France). Pattison, two laps ahead of Eglee, is the leader at the moment of writing. A forthcoming attraction announced is a match between Lisette and Dutrieux.

LADIES’ TEAM RACE AT THE AQUARIUM
Standard (London, England) Monday 7-Dec-1896

Standard18961207Mon

Pall Mall Gazette (London) Wednesday 9-Dec-1896

PallMallGaz18961209Wed6th Ladies Six of 1896

CYCLING LADIES AT THE AQUARIUM
Pall Mall Gazette (London) Thursday 10-Dec-1896

PallMallGaz18961210Thu

SIX DAYS’ LADIES’ CYCLING RACE
Daily News (London) Thursday 10-Dec-1896

DailyNews18961210Thu

Pall Mall Gazette (London) Friday 11-Dec-1896

PallMallGaz18961211Fri

LADY CYCLISTS AT THE AQUARIUM
Daily News (London) Monday 14-Dec-1896

Pos

Team - Riders

Miles

Laps

1

Miss PATTISON

399

3

2

Mdlle EGLEE

399

1

3

Miss HARWOOD

393

3

4

Mdlle Marcelle VAUTRO

393

1

5

Miss BLACKBURN

379

7

6

Mdlle Beany VAUTRO

238?

4

7

Mdlle PALLIARDE

191?

7

8

Miss FARRAR (retired)

???

1

9

Mrs GRACE (retired)

87

4

10

Mdlle DEVERNEUIL (retired)

16

5

“The six days’ race at the Royal Aquarium was concluded on Saturday night, Miss Pattison (England) winning a good race by two laps. The final scores were:-”

ENGLAND DOWNS FRANCE. MISS PATTISON WINS THE SIX-DAY BACE AT THE AQUARIUM.
The Referee and Cycle Trade Journal (Chicago & New York, USA) 31-Dec-1896

London, Dec 16. - The six-day race for women at the Royal Aquarium concluded last Saturday and resulted in a win for an English rider, Miss Pattison, who covered 399 miles 3 laps. Mile. Eglee was the runner up and finished only two laps behind the winner. Again and again the Frenchwoman endeavored to get away from her rival, but Pattison, evidently the fresher of the pair, was always equal to a responsive spurt. Mrs. Grace retired quite early in the week. Thursday Miss Farrar fell heavily on the rails, sustaining a nasty cut on the forehead, which compelled her retirement. There were no other casualties of note and a good attendance witnessed the racing from day to day. Miss Harwood secured third place with 393 miles 3 laps, Marcelle Vautro was fourth with 393 miles 1 lap and Blackburn fifth with 379 miles 7 laps. This week another six day contest, for prizes amounting to $250, was commenced, several fresh riders taking part. Mile. Henriette unfortunately sustained a fall on the first day which, up to the present, has prevented her again riding. Mile. Eglee cut out the pace and led at the close of yesterday's racing with 131 miles. Miss Pattison's score comes next with 128 miles. Miss Anderson is third, and the other competitors include Mrs. Ward, Miss Tyler, Miss Gavett and Miss Astins. The women are divided into two sections, each of which rides two spells amounting to three and a half hours. With the intervals, therefore, the racing occupies eight hours - from 2 to 10 p.m.

Programme for Final Ladies Six of 1896

1896Dec28Aquarium1Clearly this is another race and it ran from 28 Dec 1896 until 2 Jan 1897 - so that’s one more for the totals ...

In this race the riders were -

1. Miss BLACKBURN
2. Miss LANE
3. Miss ANDERSON
4. Miss FARRAR
5. Mrs WARD
6. Mdlle GILBERTE
7. Mdlle FISCHER
8. Miss GAVETT
9. Miss SHELTON
10. Miss CROUCH

And according to the hand-written results the final outcome was -

Pos

Team - Riders

Miles

Laps

1

Miss BLACKBURN

372

7

9

Miss LANE (retired?)

189

2

2

Miss ANDERSON

372

2

3

Miss FARRAR

372

1

4

Mrs WARD

368

1

8

Mdlle GILBERTE

322

6

10

Mdlle FISCHER

79

0

5

Miss GAVETT

367

9

6

Miss SHELTON

349

0

7

Miss CROUCH

326

8

1896AquariumProgrammeRiders

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