The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-05
GYMKHAflA FOR BICYcLlsTS.
An ENTERTAINMENT ORIGINATED
BY THE QUEENS CLUB.

Gvmn nstics on the Bicycle-Lady
RandOIph Churchill Carried on
tie Prize for Tent PegSing-SpOOn
md Egg Races and Bending.
London. Aug. 31-Women and men in
England do not go in so much for century
runs and that sort of thing as do the wo-
men and men of the bicycle persuasion in
this country. They do not in their con-
tests tire themselves all out and lay up
for week after with limbs and muscles
strained and sore, but devote themselves
rather to contests which require expert
ness and nerve. In these contests the wo-
men frequently get the best of the men.
A popular form of sport comprises such
contests as "spoon-and-egg races" bend
ing" "tent-pegging," etc. This is called
"gymkhana.'
A "gymkhana" means gymnastics upon
a wheel, and it is the newest word in fad
DOM
A most "swagger" ''gymkhana" was
held recently at Queens Club, Kensington,
and one of the interesting things about
the contests was, that in those games
open both to men and women, the women
heat their sweethearts and brothers easily.
This was especially noticeable in the
bending" contests where two pretty girls
were more than equal to their masculine
rivals.
A bending contest by the way, consists
of riding in and out along a row of nine
pins.
A spoon-and-egg race consists in guiding
4he wheel with one hand and carrying 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 tent-pegging. The pegs consist
Of six cardboard disks placed in a 1O0-yard
course. The contestant rides along with
a sharp spear and tries to pick the discs
up The one picking up the most with his
or her spear is the winner, though in case
two contestants pick up an equal number
the heat is decided by their relative posi-
lions as regards speed. In the Kensing-
ton tournament 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 Lon
don.
The titled American women are very
expert at this. Lady Randolph Church
i'll 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
line of narrow planks. This is not as
easy as one would think at first. Let any
woman try it the next time she goes out
on her wheel if she thinks it is easy. Then
there is the side-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 in London one
day in June.
All American women would better be-
gin to practice these things, for the time
as at hand when, instead of injuring their
health by long and laborious rides the
sensible ones will go in for these gymk-
mana affairs, where they can benefit their
health and have a lot of fun at the same
Vime. The fact that in these trials of skill
me women can most of the time beat the
men ought to make them popular with all
the weaker vessels The great sue
cess of the Queens Club gymkhana has
assured the continuance of such contests,
ana English women "do gymkhana" and
tdik gymkhaua wherever two of them
owning wheels get together. The Prin-
less or Wales seldom cycles, but does
symkhana" upon her wheel in the Sand
rngham grounds
NAeh we see sport get so popular in
Nuslahd 1t is not long before it becomes
PopuIar over here, if it is a sensible
T9port, ana this gymkhana business is.
~ ~ s just what the American women need.
iney nave heretofore been trying to do
Soo hard work with the bicycle A proper
@mouht OF exercise on the wheel is all
-ieH' Tor women, but too many women
"'erdo It, These gymkhana races train
aroo, nerves the eye and give a proper
,irno az OF exercise, While at the same
ulne they afford amusement both for the
81 Haruclpants and the onlookers. favor
~ race among English women is the
o anus OH This consists in riding
en- Ju'lu tne track once as quickly as pos
TS oe without touching the handlebars
Ky luke of Marlborough sportively tries
I S game at Blenheim with his wifes
slrl friends
~, nylng start is given with hands on
t pdTs, but before the line is crossed
Oh gar must be released and not touch
co asaih until the race is ended. Any
f oiip touching the handle bar or
lung IN the race is disqualified. In
t ,he bending race it should be observed
ee 'ne hinepins are placed closer to-
IS. ST. as The competitors develop more
W. IA winding in and out among them.
81 my MY TINS race is called bending is not APP
"a H. out 1T Is, and that settles it. All
81 HeSe sports with the bicvcle II must no
ID y.
ar, england not among the masses" but
Sraus the Glasses" and the cycle
Pottnuu al Battersea Park is fair rival TO
a ,gUon Row as an exercise ground for the
III t11,ocracy of London
Hi wheel clubs are ranidlv incraasiy,., a.,
suoer among the ladies of the peer
too ana the titled women who are not
ana o o, are nearly all gymkhana women,
e"perts at that. Duchesses and count
by ARE are adding to their stock of health
not t1lslhg themselves in these sports,
ara ing, as too many American women
IN I'm ny urlng themselves by over-exertion
Bpt Jury runs and that sort OF thing.
soup5a5S ady the note of warning has been
to tr. a. and American women are sure
Sister nose sports in which their British.
pleasnra nave found SO much health and
Mrs. Grey-Canfield.
SE1N# -------s--es-0--
NsCENT OF THE YUKON,