The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-28 00:00:00

THE BICYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP IN
LONDON.

On Monday afternoon at Lillie Bridge, West Brom-
ton, there was a race for the Ten Miles Bicycle
Championship Medal, presented by the Amateur
Bicycle Club, which has to be held three years before
becoming the private property of any winner. The
weather was fine, though very cold, but the attend-
ance was not so large as might have been expected,
falling short of 1,000.
Of the original entries three same to the post, their
names bein . Keen, B. Stanton, and C. Hicks. Keen
rode a machine with a wheel 56 inches in diameter,
Stanton one with a wheel of 58 inches, while Hicks' ma.
chine was considerably smaller, the wheel only measuring
50 inches. Hicks was altogether outclassed, and the
Interest of the race centred in the meeting of
. .

Keen and Stanton, the opponents, it will be remem-
bered, in the celebrated 106 miles match some few
weeks back. Though the start had been advertised to
take place at three o'clock. it was twenty minutes to
four when the men received the word to go. Stanton
took the lead, followed by Keen. Even in the first
hundred yards it was plainly evident that Hicks had
no chance, and he was soon far behind. There being
three laps to the mile at Lillie Bridge, the course had
to be traversed thirty times to complete the distence.
Stanton kept in front for the first mile, for which the
times were: Stanton 3 mm. 44 sec., and Keen 3 min.
45 sec. In the last lap of the second mile Keen went to
the front, completing the two miles in 7 rain. 21 sec.
Stanton, close up, only to ..k one second longer. These
positions were maintained for nearly a mile, when
Stanton put on a sport and regained the lead. His
time for three miles was 10 min. 57 sec., and Keen's
10 min. 59 sec. About halfway in the fourth mile
Keen got ahead cram, but at the end of the mile there
was hardly a yard between the two machines. Time
14 mitt 35 see. Keen now fell back so far indeed as
to cause some uneasiness among his friends. At the
end of the fifth mile, or half the distance, Stanton
held a lead of 100 yards, his time being 18 mm, 19 sec,
ta Keen's 18 min. 26 sec. Keen, however, soon began
to make up ground, but when six miles had been
overed he was still some 20 yards behind, his time
being 22 min. 7 sec., and Stanton's 22 min. 5 sec.
For the next two miles the race was very finely con.
tested indeed, first Keen being in front again, and
then Stanton. The time for seven miles were, Keen
25 min. 49 sec., and Stanton 25 rain. 50 sec.; and
for eight miles, Stanton 29 min. 30 sec., and Keen 29
rein. 31 sec. Entering the ninth mile the race became ;
very exciting. In the second lap Keen went in
front, but Stanton kept close upto him, there being only
a second difference in the times at the end of the mile,
Keen 33 min. 9 sec., and Stanton 33 min. 10 sec.
Om:mowing the tenth and last mile Keen put on a
really magnificent spurt, and, going right ahead, even-
tually won by 180 yards in 36 min. 32 sec. lie rode
the last lap in one minute exactly, a very brilliant
,erf ormance. Throughout the race he showed all his
accustomed grace of style, and richly deserved the
ort,lguse which greeted him at the finish. Stanton's
vele wee 36 min. 47i sec.