Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-21
THE SILENT SIZED.
The Big Meet to be Held Here Sep
TENDER 3Oth.

eShto1t Sohlls
Annual Races OF the Wilmington Wheel
Club to Eclipse Former Oocasions--New
Track and New course--other Cycling
Matters.
Saturday, September Both, will be
gala day among cyclers and those inter-
ested in racing in and about Whining
ton. The annual 25-mile road race and
track events of the Wilmington Wheel
Club will take place at the athletic
grounds at Union street and Lancaster
avenue on that day, and from present
indications will surpass anything in in
terest yet given in this city.
There will be good list Of prizes
offered and in addition to local partici-
pants there will be number of noted
riders from distance. Probably Zim-
norman may take part, and an effort
will be made to secure his principal
rival, Sanger, who took race from the
Jersey skeeter" at Springfield last
Wednesday. For some time there has
been much speculation as to the respec-
tive abilities of the two men In race,
and now that Zimmerman has been
beaten by Sanger he will not rest easy
until he has retrieved his defeat. There
is some talk of getting the two men to
race here, and as the result would be of
national interest the match would I'M
doubleday prove big card for the local
club.
The majority Of the events will be be-
tween local riders, and it is expected
that on this occasion a number OF dark
horses will come TO the front and carry
off the honors.
Pyle, Beggs, Hanley, Mcdaniel, Wier,
Jack, Jackson, Elliott, Mayne, Kirk,
Turner, Greenman and all the local men
with records will participate and in adj
ditlon there will be some novices who
arc now in training.
The 25-mile road race is the event that
will probably be of the most importance
to the wheelmen and the friends of the
several contestants. The new course to
be traversed this year will add to the
uncertainty of the result. The road
races in previous years have been run
between this city and New Castle or
down the State road, but ut the coming
meet II will be in an altogether differ
ent direction. Starting at the ball
grounds the course followed will be out
Union street to the new road, through
Elsmere to Prices Corner, where it
will bear around to the right on the
cross road leading north, TO the kennett
turnpike, thence to Union street, and
return to the track.
In order to complete the distance the
riders will have TO circle the track seve-
raj times and go over the course twice,
50 the spectators will see the start, the
middle Of the race and the finish, the
three most interesting stages.
Interest in cycling here is rapidly in
creasing, as will be seen by the big run
taken by the Wilmington Wheel Club
Sunday week, when the number in the
party exceeded 20. Quite a number of
local riders have been training quietly
during the summer, with view to win
ming laurels in the fall, and some Of the
results at the coming meet may be a little
surprising.
The plans for the occasion have not
been fully settled, but the committee is
hard at work and expect 10 have fine
programme arranged
The Union street grounds were taken
in preference to Hazel Dell for several
very good reasons, the principal ones
being that 1t is in better condition for
bicycle racing and is much more accessi-
BILE than Hazel Dell. There are three
lines of street cars running direct to the
grounds and the attendants will have
no trouble in getting home.
CYCLING FOR FIREMEN.
The Wheel Club proposes to give an
other meet during the firemen's conyan-
ton here; but as yet which day it will
be has not been definitely determined.
The occasion will no doubt be very in
teresting, as it will give vanquished
riders at the big meet this month an OPP
portunity to trounce the victors. II
possible, some special events will be ar
ranged for the particular benefit of the
tiremen.
The attendance of some noted outside
wheelmen will also be sought, with a
view to making the occasion as full of
diversity and interest as possible.
II is quite likely that road race, and
possibly two, of 10 and rs miles will be
among the events of the day, as vii.
mington men have for few years been
much better road riders than track
riders. @.#
1t is probable that this meet will also
W given Nv bu6 rTOnL anu Union
grounds, but this will not be decided
until the other minute of the meet have
been further considered.
WILMINGTON RIDERS EXCLUDED.
Many people wonder why the bicycle
events at the State fair last week were
open only to Kent and Sussex county
riders.
The fact Of the matter is that riders in
this county are victims of an unayoid-
able circumstance. The L. A. w. would
not sanction the proposed races there
last year, as they conflicted with Balti-
more dates, and because the Wilmington
men would not violate the l.. A. W.
rules and ride anyway the fair managers
became indignant and now they even
refuse to allow wheelmen 10 this county
to participate. Local riders do not mind
this much, but they do not want to be
blamed for the unfortunate circum.
stance over which they had no control.
Mi