The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-23
CHAMPION CYCUST HERE
PARSONS. AN AUSTRALIAN RIDER,
SEES CYCLOMERE.
Says the New Track viii be Popular
Gives Some Views Upon the Crack
Riders of the Day.

The champion cyclist of Australia,
j. W. Parsons, accompanied by Mrs.
Parsons, is "A passenger ON the Mari
posa, en- route to Sidney. During his
brief stay in the city Mr.. Parsons was
met and entertained by local wheel
men.
Mr.. Parsons was shown over the
new cycle course at Cyclomere and he
expressed much surprise over the fast
track. He predicted that within a
year or two it would be as attractive
as any race course in the United
States or Australia. Australia's cham
pion has spent the past two summers
in England and America. training and
competing with the best riders of
these two countries, merely for the
experience to be derived thereby. Last
year he did not profit much by it, up
on his return to Australia many of the
inferior riders defeating him during
the early portion of the Australian ra-
cling season.
However, in the big events with
which the season closed, Parsons made
very commendable showing. With
the training he has had this year
| abroad he hopes to give better ac-
count of himself than ever before.
When seen today Parsons spoke en-
| Enthusiastically of the American riders
with whom he has been recently in
training. and was of the opinion that
the European riders were vastly in
! ferior to those of America in compet-
! tive ability.
"Without doubt the two fastest rid
ers in the world" said he. 'are Johnny
I johnson of America and Platt Belts
of England. They are not so good
! from competitive standpoint, but
when it comes to following pace L
have never seen any surpass them.
California has turned OUT some splen-
did riders. Mcfarland, who is now
in the East, | consider the finest han
dicap rider / ever laid eyes upon. L
was at the national meet in Philadel-
phia when he rode that memorable
I handicap in which he defeated Loug-
head. Bald, Sanger Hamilton. and the
other cracks who were placed upon
the scratch with him. / also saw him
| all but win the great Quill Club han
dicap, held recently in New York. Had
he not been in an unfortunate pocket
when Titus made his sneak McFar-
land would have been an easy winner
of that big purse.
saw LeISltI rue ldSl year ana l.
rode with him some of the time He
has great burst of speed, but his
many falls have rendered him too tim
id for good hard lighting. There is
considerable excitement in the East
over the coming match between Mi
cheal and Lesna, which is scheduled
for September 25. 1t VIII be decid-
edly close contest and will depend al
together upon the man which has the
fastest pacemaking. Lesna is every
bit as good a man at following pace
as Michael and is a better sprinter
when it comes to finish.
"Racing in Australia this year now
promises to be better than any we
have yet had, and | have been pre-
pairing myself for harder fights this
time than in any season before. The
preliminary season opened the 1st of
this month, but the real racing will
not commence before the 1st of No
vember. This will allow me plenty of
time to get in shape upon my return
although | intend doing light train
ing aboard the steamer on the journey
/ across"