Wichita eagle., 1888-10-06
WICHITA wHEELMEN
1t the Bicycle Races and l. A. ". Meet At
Topeka.

q The Wichita Wheelmen we're represented
in Topeka October at the third annual
meet OF the Kansas division of League OF
American Wheelmen by A. j. HenleT, l.
:. Baker, C. C. Woodman and Harry
Lesh They left here Wednesday evening
srriving in Topeka Thursday morning &c
4:3o and were met at the depot by Wa.
Taylor. one of the reception committee.
and escorted to the hotel. After couple
Of hours sleep and breakfast the visiting
yheelnlen led by the Topeka club rode TO
be fair grounds where an immense crowd,
ittracted by the announcement OF bicycle
races had assembled.
Tie boys say the track was the best they
have ever had the pleasure of riding upon
At 10 o'clock the first race was called, dis
tance one mile. won by VI. B. Mulvane, OF
Topeka. with Harry Lesh close second
There were six starters; time. 3 minutes
and IS seconds.
The next race was half mile dash, five
starters, won by Collie Bell champion OF
minnesota. A J. Henley gave Bell
good race, finishing about one second
after; time, 20 I'd prize, bicycle prize
Then came the team race for SIS pic
cared TO run that distance for the afore-
said prize, consequently the Topekas Were
the only starters.
The next race Of interest was the state
of Kansas championship. 5 miles In this
there were five starters, Henley winning
by 30 yards in 1925. The championship
medal was by far the handsomest prize
given, being solid gold, aFtisticany en-
graved, worth So Quite a number o.
Wichita people were present attending the
q. A r. encampment, all OF whom
cheered Henley whenever he came down
the home stretch.
In the next race, a 2 mile lap, there
were four starters, Bell Henley, Lesh and
Boals, who finished in the order given
This IS where Henley gave Bell
the hottest race of the day, both coming
under the wire neck and neck Bell fin
ished on the final lap about half wheel
ahead. Second prize was cyclometer,
which was exchanged for pair OF rat-trap
racing pedals. The last race was a one
mile handicap, with seven starters-handi-
cap from ten to one hundred yards. Bell
won in 2:55, with Hall, of Junction City, a
close second. Henley was not entered
After inner the business meeting OF the
State Division was held in the club rooms,
and Henley was elected chairman OF the
racing committee. Joe seems to be IA
vorite among the flyers and promises, with
proper training, to make a fast rider.
Lunch was served in the club rooms and
all were invited to attend the theater in Il
body. A vote OF thanks by visiting
wheelmen was rendered the Topeka wheel
men for their kind treatment and royal
entertainment. The Wichita boys re-
turned yesterday morning and report a
very pleasant time;
The race track at Topeka is two laps to
the mile and has a hard clay surface such
as would be hard to find either in or adj
jacent to this city. There has been some
talk of three lap cinder track on the in
side of the Davidson track which could be
built with but little expense. The wheel
men hope now, that the boys are showing
some speed on wheels Especially Henley
that the business men will assist them in
preparing place for training and occas-
ional races. The next annual meet will
be held in Ottawa at which place the state
championship races for a half mile, one
mile and the three miles will be run while
the state championship races for two, five,
and ten miles will be run in Wichita
hence the necessity of a track