The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-05
''GYMKHANA" FOX CYCLISTS.
A STagBer Wheel Entertainment OFi6i
mated by the Queens Club.
SOME GYMNASTICS on The BICYCLE
Lady Randolph Chuichill Carried ~ the
Prize for Tent Pegsing-spoon and
Egg Races and
BENDING,

LONDON, August 3l.-Women and men
IN England do not 60 in 50 much for CEN
fury runs and that sort OF thing as DO the
women and men Of the bicycle persuasion
I'm this country. They do not in their
contests tire themselves all out and lay
up for a week after with limbs and mus
Giles strained and sore. but devote them
selves rather 10 contests which require
expertness and nerve. In these contests
the women frequently get the best OF the
men. A popular form Of sport comprises
such contests as "spoon-and-egg races
bending" "tent-pegging. &c. This Is
called "gymknana.'
A "gymkhana" means gymnatics upon
a wheel, and it is the newest word i'm fad
dom.
A most "swagger" "gymkhana" was
held recently al Queens Club. Kensing-
ION. and one Of the interesting things
about the contests was. that in those
games open both to men and women, the
women beat their sweethears and broth
ers easily.
This was especially noticeable IN the
pending contest, where two pretty
girls were more than equal TO their mas
cunne rivals.
A bending contest. by the way consists
OF riding i'm and out along "a row OF nine
pins.
A spoon-and-egg race consists IN guild
ing the wheel with one hand and carry
ing in the other an egg in a spoon. no
easy thing 10 do and win "a race at the
same time. A highly popular item in
these "gymkhana" affairs is tcnt-pegging
The pegs consist OF six cardboard disks
placed in a 10l-yard course. The cOntes-
tant rides along with a sharp spear and
tries TO pick the disks up The one pick
ing up the most with his or her spear is
the winner though in case two contest
ants pick up an equal number the heat is
decided by their relative positions as re-
CARDS speed. In the Kensington tourna-
mont a special prize was given costume.
control Of machine position and general
style" This was won by the daughter of
a former Lord Mayor of London.
Tho titled American women are very
expert at this. Lady Randolph Churchill
took a Kensington prize for spearing last
week and the Countess Of Essex one the
week before.
Another part OF the "gymkhana' Is the
plank-riding contest. where the cyclists
try TO see how long they can ride along
q line OF narrow planks This IS not as
easy as one would think at first. Let any
woman try II the next time she goes out
on her wheel If she thinks ii Is easy. Then
there IS the ade-saddle race. IN which
the women sit side saddle on their wheels
and pedal with one foot only.
The sportive Maude OF Wales now the
Princess Carl Of Denmark. wheeled side
saddle half a century I'm London one
day I'm June.
All American women would better be-
gin 20 practice these things. for the time
IS at hand when, instead of iniuring their
health by long and labOrious rides. the
sensible ones will go I'm for these gymk-
hama affairs. where they can benefit their
health and have a lot OF fun at the same
time. The fact that in these trials OF
skill tho women can most OF the time beat
the men ought 10 make them popular
with am the weaker vessels" The great
success Of the Queens Club gymkhana
has assured the continuance OF such con-
tests. and English women do gymkhana"
and talk gymkhana wherever two Of them
owning wheels get together. The Prin-
cess OF Wales seldom cycles, but does
"gymkhana" upon her wheel in the San
dringham grounds.
When We sec a sport set so popular IN