The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23
time made was the most successful event

time made was the most successful event
of its kind ever held by the association.
On Washington's birthday of each year
since 1898 the various clubs belonging to
the association have run a twenty-five
mile race over this course, and as all the
prominent clubs of this part of the State
are ncluded-twenty.thr in all-it brings
together the fastest riders hereabouts.
There were seventy-nine entrants in yes
terday's event, but five of whom failed to
start, and this left more than double the
number OF contestants in any previous
race to compete for glory and the valuable
prizes offered.
The course which the riders traversed
was in splendid condition for road racing,
and except for short patch, where sand
had blown upon it, was hard and smooth.
There was some wind in the riders faces
on one side of the trian gle, but not suf-
flclent to retard their speed in any great
measure. For twenty-five mile race the
San Leandro course is an ideal one for the
wheelmen. The start is madeson the Hay
wards road about a quarter of a mile north
east OF San Leandro; the riders here have
the base of the triangle, which they follow
for short way, and then turn to the
right and take the perpendicular through
san Lorenzo, turning west here upon the
hypothenuse back to the starting point
The total distance is eight and a third
miles, and by making the circnit three
times the required twenty-five miles are
completed, and the spectators have seen
the start OF the race, watched the riders
pass them twice, and are ''in at the finfsh.''
The limit men, six in number, who were
allowed ten minutes handicap, were sent
away by Starter De Witt Van Court
promptly at 10:30 o'clock, and in rapid
succession, at intervals of half minute,
IN bunches OF from two to eight, the others
followed them. There was an immense
assemblage of wheelmen and other specta-
tors at the starting point, and the crowd
was hard to control, but the riders all got
well along on their journey without seri-
Gus mishap. Then the people began to
speculate among themselves as to who
would win and how fast time would be
made.
Prior to Yesterdays race it was generally
admitted that the prizes for fastest time
would fall to one of the scratch men, but
no one seemed to be able to pick the win
ner of first place from among the three
score and ten handicap men, though many
prophecies were offered, which the actual
result completely upset.
Henry Noonan of the Santa Rosa Wheel
men, TO whom the Handicapped had al
lowed the full limit of time allowance (ten
minutes) proved the winner, while
Charles s.. Wells of the Bay City Wheel
men, the giant champion of all coast class
B trackracers last year, won the prize and
honor most valued among wheelmen for
having made the fastest time. His net
riding time for the distance was hour 10
minutes and 80 2-5 seconds, which also es-
tablishes a new coast record, the best
previous performance being that of Walter
i. Foster of the Olympic Club w leelmen
in a similar race just one year ago, whose
time was 1 hour IL minutes and 55 AS
seconds.
Wells was in splendid shape to ride a
winning race, as he had been at Coronado
all winter training aud riding for records
with one of the big racing teams. He left
there Tuesday by steamer and arrived
here Friday morning, taking trial spin
over the course that afternoon. This was
all the practice he had over the road
though he had ridden it so often before as
to know every inch of tie way, almost.
The winner Of first place, Noonan. has