CYCLE TOURNAMENT ENDED IN GLORY. - The San Francisco Call, 23 Feb 1895

CYCLE TOURNAMENT ENDED IN GLORY. pavilion elwell 23 Feb 1895, Sat The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

CYCLE TOURNAMENT ENDED IN GLORY

EMIL ULBRICHT BEAT THE WORLD'S RECORD FOR TWENTY-FIVE MILES.

CHINESE RACE AND HEADERS.

EXCITING FINISHES WIND UP A GREAT INDOOR MEETING. THE SUCCESSFUL.

The bicycle tournament at the Pavilion was brought to a successful conclusion last evening. A large attendance was present, both afternoon and evening, and the sport was fast and exciting. As a fitting conclusion to this great tournament, Emil Ulbricht of the Bay City Wheelmen made a successful attempt on the world's indoor track record for twenty-five miles and succeeded in lowering it to 1 h. 5 min. 17 2-5 sec, which is nearly three minutes below the best previous performance of the kind. Ulbricht rode at a killing rate of speed the entire distance, and his pacing was excellent.

No accidents happened during the day or evening of serious moment. In the one-mile Chinese race two of the contestants collided on the banks of the track, but were not badly hurt.

The following is a summary of the day's sport:

The afternoon racing commenced with a one-quarter mile class A dash, divided into three heats, first in each to qualify for the final. The first heat brought out A. N. Jones, G. C. C., and F. McFarland, S. J. R. C. This was a gift for Jones, who won in 37 2-5 seconds.

The next heat had F. M. Byrne, I. C. C., and E. Languetin, B. C. W., for starters. The latter showed a fine burst of speed from the start and won in 34 3-5 seconds.

In the third heat were G. A. Nissen, B. C. W., and O. L. Pickard, A. C. W., and the former found it easy for him, winning in 37 seconds.

Then followed a one-mile handicap race, class B, in three heats, the winner only to qualify for the final. In the first heat were: F. G. Lacey, B. C. W., 80 yards; W. A. Terrill, B. C. W., 50 yards, and W. F. Foster, O. C. W., scratch. This was the best race run at the tournament and created a great deal of enthusiasm. Terrill had little difficulty in catching up to Lacey in two laps, and at the end of the fifth lap Foster caught the leaders. He held first place until the last lap, when in a grand spurt Terrill beat him out by inches in 2 min. 22 2-5 sec.

In the next heat the starters were: R. Cushing, 60 yards; H. Smith, 40 yards, and O. Osen, scratch-all members of the Garden City Cyclers. Smith was caught by Osen on the second lap and forthwith dropped out. By the fifth lap Osen was also up with Cushing, whom he trailed closely until the last lap, when he walked away with the race, winning in 2 min. 27 sec.

The third heat brought out Tony Delmas, G. C. C., who had 40 yards' handicap over E. Ulbrecht, B. C. W., scratch. Delmas could not keep his lead, however, and Ulbricht won easily in 2 min. 22 3-5 sec., which is record for an indoor track on this coast.

The final heat of the quarter-mile, class A, had for starters G. A. Nissen and E. Languetin, B. C. W., and A. N. Jones, G. C. C. Jones fell at the start, as his pedal broke. Languetin won handily from Nissen in 34 2-5 sec.

Then came an amusing feature in the shape of a one-mile Chinese race, class C, and Wilbur Knapp announced the starters to be Messrs. One, Two, Three and Four Lung. Two of the contestants fell on the west turn, and the other two raced round, Two Lung winning in 3 min. 12 sec. 

After an intermission of fifteen minutes, the heats of the half-mile class, a handicap, were run, four in number, winners only to qualify for final.

The first heat was run by G. A. Nissen, B. C. W., scratch; O. L. Pickard, A. C. W., 35 yards, and E. S. Battles, B. C. W., 30 yards. Pickard got this race in a pretty finish with Nissen. Time, 1 min. 10 sec.

In the second heat were: F. M. Byrne, I. C. C., scratch; E. Languetin, B. C. W., 20 yards, and F. L. Day, B. C. W., 30 yards. Byrne won the heat, but was disqualified on a foul, and Day, who ran second, was allowed to compete on the final. Byrne's time was 1 min. 9 1-5 sec.

The starters in the third heat were: A. N. Jones, G. C. C., scratch; M. F. Rose, A. C. W., scratch, and W. L. Thompson, B. C. W., 60 yards. Thompson put up a fine ride and won from Jones in 1 min. 91-5 sec.

For the fourth heat F. McFarland, S. J. R. C., rode from scratch, giving A. J. Buzard, C. R. C., 30 yards. He made up this handicap easily, winning in 1 min. 12 3-5 sec.

Then followed the final of the mile class B handicap, with E. Ulbricht, B. C. W., and O. Osen, G. C. C., scratch, and W. A. Terrill, B. C. W., 30 yards. This was another grand race, closely contested between all three, Terrill finally winning in 2 min. 19 2-5 sec., Osen second. Osen's time was the same, thus giving him the world's indoor record, which was previously 2 min. 20 sec.

The afternoon's racing concluded with the final heat of the half-mile class A handicap, those who had qualified to start being F. McFarland, S.J.R.C., scratch; O. L. Pickard, A. C. W., 25 yards; F. L. Day, B. C. W., 30 yards; W. L. Thompson, B. C. W., 60 yards. Thompson showed that he has the making of a great racer in him, winning handily from the others in 1 min. 9 3-5 sec. Day was a close second, while the others were not a wheel's length back.

The evening's racing opened with a half-mile scratch, class A, race in three heats, the starters in the first heat being G. A. Nissen, B. C. W., and E. W. Decker, A. C. W., which the former won in 1 min. 14 3-5 sec.

In the second heat were F. McFarland, S. J. R. C., and F. M. Byrne, I. C. C. It did not give Byrne much trouble to win his heat; time, 1 min. 12 3-5 sec.

Those who started in the third heat were: E. Languetin, B. C. W., and A. N. Jones, G. C. C. Jones had the best of it all the way, winning in 1 min. 15 sec.

Then the class B men had an inning, the distance being a third of a mile. There were two heats, and the first brought out F. G. Lacey, L. A. A. C., and W. A. Terrill, B. C. W. This was a hot one and Terrill only won it on a splendid spurt. Time, 48 sec.

In the second heat the starters were W. F. Foster, O. O. Osen, G. C. C., and E. Ulbricht, B. C. W. Osen won a hotly contested race, with Foster second, in 47 sec.

Then followed a parade of all the different styles of wheels represented at the show, including singles, tandems, a triplet, two quadruplets and the now-celebrated "giraffe," all of which attracted considerable attention.

After this parade came the final of the half-mile class A scratch, for which A. N. Jones, G. C. C., F. M, Byrne, I. C. C., and G. A. Nissen, B. C. W., had qualified. This was a fine race, closely contested, and Jones barely won in 1 min. 10 sec., Byrne second, Byrne claimed a foul, which was disallowed.

Then followed a race between two six-year-old children - George and Clotide Devaney. The boy won amid much applause.

For the final of the third of a mile class B race W. F. Foster, O. A. C.; O. Osen, G. C. C., and W. A. Terrill, B. C. W., had qualified. This was a spurt from the crack of the pistol. Terrill had the lead all the way, but ran wide on the last turn and Osen beat him out a few inches. Time, 47 1-5 sec.

James Ordway, champion trick rider of the coast, then gave an exhibition of fancy riding, which was cleverly executed and well applauded.

The mile handicap, class A, was next run, divided into heats and a final. The starters in the first heat were: F. McFarland, S. J. R. C., 40 yards; C. F. Lemmon, O. C. W., 60 yards; O. L. Pickard, A.C. W., 60 yards. Pickard had the lead for six laps, when Lemmon passed him and won in 2 min. 22 sec. McFarland was over-handicapped.

The next heat had for contestants: G. A. Nissen, B. C. W., scratch; W. C. Howe, I. C.C., 90 yards; A. H. Agnew, A. C. W., 110 yards. Nissen made a great endeavor to overcome his limit men and caught Agnew, but could not reach Howe, who won in 2 min. 25 1-5 sec.

For the third heat were: P. Metcalf, I. C. C., 60 yards; F. L. Day, B. C. W., 70 yards; W. L. Thompson, B. C. W.; 130 yards. Metcalf proved the best of the trio, winning by 20 yards from Day in 2 min. 21 2-5 sec.

Fourth heat-Starters: E. Languetin, B: C. W., 40 yards; E. S. Battles, B. C. W. 70 yards; E. Barley, I. C. C., 80 yards. Barley and Battles collided on the west bank and Barley's Cleveland wheel was completely wrecked. Languetin was also caught in the general smashup, but he and Battles remounted, their wheels being uninjured, and Languetin won in 3 min. 8 sec. Fortunately none of the riders were hurt in the fall.

Then came the first heat of the two-mile, class B handicap, with starters viz: W. F. Foster, O. C. W., scratch; E. Ulbricht, B. C. W., scratch, and F. G. Lacey, 175 yards. Lacey was never headed and won in 5 minutes flat.

In the second heat were O. Osen, G. C. C., scratch, and W. A. Terrill, B. C. W., 80 yards. It took the former just five laps to overcome this handicap, but he did not attempt to get the lead, which Terrill kept to the finish, winning in 5 minutes 24 seconds.

Then came the final of the one-mile, class A, handicap, those who had qualified being E. Languetin, B. C. W., 40 yards; P. Metcalf, I. C. C., 60 yards; C. F. Lemmon, A. C. W., 60 yards, and W. C. Howe, I. C. C., 90 yards. They were all bunched in a few laps and stayed that way to the finish, Howe barely winning by 2 minutes, 22 seconds; Languetin second.

This was followed by the Alameda County championship, two miles, scratch, in which were entered E. W. Decker, A. C. W.; G. A. Nissen, B. C. W., and M. F. Rose, A. C. W. Nissen was not entered but rode under protest and won easily, with Decker second. Time, 5 min. 21 3-5 sec.

The next race was the two-mile class B handicap. Starters: W. F. Foster, O. C. W., scratch; W. A. Terrill, B. C. W., 80 yards; F. G. Lacey, B. C. W., 175 yards. At the start Lacey spurted and caught on to Foster and the pair were soon up with Terrill, this bringing Lacey a lap ahead of the others as he had a handicap of 175 yards. Foster beat Terrill in the spurt, however, while Lacey won in 5 min. 16 sec.

As the final event of the evening and of the tournament as well Emil Ulbricht of the Bay City Wheelmen started in an attempt to break the world's indoor track record for twenty-five miles, paced by all the crack riders who have participated here the past week, including Edwards, Terrill, Foster, H. Smith, Davis, Delmas and Lacey. Ulbricht made 23 miles and 2 laps in an hour and finished the 25 miles in 1:5:17 3-5, beating the world's record by three minutes. A large crowd awaited the finish and he was loudly cheered. After the races were over a meeting of prominent wheelmen was called, the purpose of which was to contradict the statements made by Otto Ziegler to the effect that the management of the tournament had not kept its promise with him. A resolution was passed as follows:

WHEREAS, Adverse criticism has appeared in the local papers in reference to the indoor bicycle tournament just closed, the undersigned officials and committeemen desire to express their opinion as follows:

First - That the management and control throughout has been eminently satisfactory in all matters tending to the comfort, convenience and welfare of the contestants, and every suggestion of the advisory committee has been at once carried out. The prize committee was placed in control of all prizes previous to the opening of the tournament and have awarded them to the successful contestants. The prizes have been in every instance of the full value advertised, and we have yet to hear of any successful contestant who is dissatisfied with the value of his trophies. The benefits to the trade and sport through the medium of the cycle show have been far reaching, and we tender Mr. Irving our thanks and congratulations on the very efficient and honorable manner in which he has conducted the first cycle show in San Francisco.

This resolution was signed by: 

G. P. Wetmore, B. C. W.; Charles Bain, R. A. C.; F. D. Elwell, referee: W. D. Sheldon, B. C. W.; D. D. Owens, [Should be L. D. Owens. - MF] O. A. C.; L. C. Hunter, O. A. C.; L. E. Stoddard, [Should be E. E. Stoddard - MF] B. C. W.; C. K. Melrose, chief consul L. A. W.; C. S. Wells, B. C. W.; H. F. Wynne, C. C. C.; F. H. Kerrigan, president B. C. W.; C. M. Ravlin, secretary-treasurer L. A. W.; C. A. Elliot, B. C. W., and R. A. Smyth, handicapper L. A.W.

The third annual 25-mile road race of the California Associated Cycling Clubs, which was to have been run yesterday over the San Leandro triangle, was postponed on account of rain until a week from tomorrow.

To-night a banquet will be tendered by the Bay City Wheelmen to Messrs. E. Ulbricht and F. G. Lacey, the Los Angeles racers who participated in the recent tournament.