The morning call., 1891-02-16
CASH PRIZES.
The Barrier Between Amateurs and Pro-
fessionaIs Removed.

The Barrier Between Amateurs and Pro-
fessionaIs Removed.
The fundamental principle of amateur
athletics in America is the eschewing Of cash
prizes for competitions of any kind. How
different are amateur sports conducted in
Australia can be judged by the following
letter published in an English exchange:
1t may not be generally known that in Aus
tralia the leading Cycling club-Ihe Melbourne
Bicycle Club-now give cash for amateur prizes
Tue following extracts on their recent big meet
ing may be interesting: The race meeting held
last saturday. November 22d, OH the Melbourne
Cricket Ground was Undoubtedly the hneSt the
Melbourne Bicycle Club has ever held. Look at
it in whatever light Won wt-the weather, at
Tendance, racing and The gale-Were all par ex-
celleuce, and must be most gratifying TO the
club, which has been building up the sport for
the last six years or more. II was, indeed. bum
per house. as the gate money receipts clearly tes-
tiiy, for no less than E417 was taken at the turn
stiles. besides over 600 for tickets sold outside
and Tor sales Of programmes, etc. There is big
expense, however, IN connection with these
meetings and one can readily conceive This
when it IS known that 500 golden sOverelgus are
given away in prizes. There Is no questioning
Ihe value of these trophies Ike There used to
be 10 days now gone by. No matter whether the
wholesale or retail nIaiket value was set on lro.
phes the grnmblers were always ac i've. ana the
Secretary worried this way aud That to
change trophies. This changing business will
now be solely transacted by The Melbourne
Clubs bankers, WHO Viii, on presentation 10y the
winners OF the clubs "Open ORDERS hand over
only Que sort of trophy, viz: pieces curIousY
engraY by the Melbourne Mint, aud am sure
no rider VIII complain II lie happens TO receive
lie same sort OF prizes twice, as in the old era =,
when Three or four cruet-staHds fell TO one man.
At an tmpromptu dinner held by tile Mel
bourne Bicycle Club at Gunslef's Cafe Saturday
evening, several Sydney cyclists who had
come across expressly 10 see the AuStral Wheel
Race run were present. Among the number
were MI Moss Chairman OF the Executive of
The New South Wales Cyclists Union, ana Mr..
Hughes and MIR. Cutbush members OF the n. s.
w. {. U. Council. Mr.. Moss cOmplimenJed the
club on The scenes lie lad Witnessed that alter
noon. On the principle OF cash prizes lie spoke
cautiously, but EXPRESSED a strong desire 10
have the value OF prizes increased IN New South
Wales and the absurd limit Of 500 removed.
Mr. L. G. Hughes spok- In the same strain,
houing That at no distant date change would
manifest Itself in New South Wales. Ii seemed
TO him that after all the policy OF wheelmen
riding for cash, he tersely put il, for
rocks was not at all bad one
The monthly meeting of tie Victoria Cv-
clisrs' Union VIII be held Monday night. 1t
VIII be interesting to learn what the action of
the union will be with regard to The petition that
is To lie presented requesting the union TO allow
cash prizes 10 all amateurs. A good many think
II likely that tie union Will follow III the foot
steps Of The Melbourne Bicycle Club and allow
all the riders connecte ed with the union TO take
cash. The Austral Wheel Race prize, $1,000,
distance two miles, on grass, was won from
scratch by I. ". Bunt of Victoria. Time. .
minutes 10 seconds. Only high machines al
lowed