One of the most keenly conte-ted of the road records recognised in this count has again been beaten by @ narrow margin The rivalry on the London to Brighton road for premier honou: s for the fastest double journey from the metropolis to the nearest seaside town and back has become so keen thit there have been almost as many failures as attempts of lute over this course. W. J. Neason, however, was not content to be counted among the unsuccessful, and inasmuch as the performance ho achieved at the beginning of the year had been beaten by R. Palmer, the ex-hundred-mile record-holder, it ws not to be wondered at that he made a big effort to regain the record, which ho succeeded in doing by 3 mins. 3 secs, Neason's time of 5 hours. 6. mins. 42 secs., for the 120 miles of this famous highway, was not accomplished without excitement. Owing lo the Isteness of the season, the starting time was necessarily postponed till day-Tight, at 4.30 in the moming, and tie entry in and exit from London over some 15 miles each way of city and suburban tratiic did not take place until the day's work was beginning, an, as a consequence, the police were ow the #lert to prevent fast riding. More than once the recurd-breaker and his helpers were hampered by having to dodge the attempts to stop them, and onv of the raids resulted ina pacer being apprehended und taken to the police station, This adds a new terror to the formidable prospec. of any would-be vanquished of Neasdu's marvel-us ride.
The extraordinary vers-tility of J. W. Stooks has once again been proved by his breaking the flying mile record, and thus upsetting the paper theories that a man is only good at either short or long distance, but not both. After his records im the Gold Ya-e contest, he had taken a needed rest, and started on Wednes tay last at the Crystal Palsce for an attack on Bett's mile, and, with the pick of the Dunlop pacing, brought down records at the hatfand three-quarter distances, and ran the full mile in min. 35 2-5th sec. So Bet's has started for Australin holder of the recor, but will arrive at Melbourne to find his times have been beaten while he was aboard Ben Goodson has decided to leave England for Sydney, and has come to the coficlusion that the climatic conditions are to different in this country that he will never have "chance here of showing his beat form. There are some critics, however, who fancy that Guo son is not the same class as the cracks that have continually beaten him, and that Australia must send over better men if the same keen approach to equality is t" be seen amongst the cyclists as there is amongst the cricketers of the Mother Country, and hor Colonies.
The game of fast and loose has taken another turn with regard to the London Country Cycling Club, and it has finally abandoned the rest of ite year's programme of races, as the National Cyclists' Union hiss suspended the Club. The races abandoned are amongst the b-st known fixtures in this country, including. the classic Cuca -Qup, the Dibble, late Anchor Shield, and the anoval six hours race for tandems. The singular part of the whole performaiiee is that the London Country Club has always been a conspicuous support-r of the Union, and a zealously—enthusiastic amateur bods," and the treatment of suspension, just "t th time of year when its hands are full, is ah rsh handling of a loyal adherent. 'G. L. Hil'i x, who ix the moving spirit of well-knoww club, declared the decision is th" most iniqui on: ing body. judgment ever pronounced by any gove es By way of variety from the usual elabortate planning of a tour to choos: the bes' roads "ud the must inter: sees visit, two cyclists of Hull recently toured across England i+. a diagonal direc ion, and drew a straight line m the ma" betwee+ [their starting point and thei and adhered as closely as possible to tha Their action recalls the wutocratie notion former Emperor of Russia, who consulted by his engineers on the course to be followed by a projected. railway lie from St. Petersbu: g to Moscow. He called for a map and a ruler, sul drew a aight line from place tu place and said There's your railway."
The attacks by roughs do not appear to be dimi bers, and an account of the moter highwayman on the Old North Road, near Finchley Common, a former haunt, last century, of the infamous Dick Turpin, rords like an extract from ancient history. Four men beset a passing cyclist aul heaved stones at him, but their aim was bad and his paco was good and he escaped, an! another pair of rilers immediately afer had a similar exp-nonce, and the whole set adjourned to report the matter to the p They, of course, received the rep rt and took no further steps.
Tive London Centre Ten miles C' ampionship has been won by P. W. Brown, of the Polytechnic O.0., who is something of a veteran as a scratch amateur. The race was run with no fewer tian 25 starters, vitable mix up occurred, thin-ranks very considerably. For the governing body of cycling to start such an enorm -us crowd at once shows a singular callousness us to the fate of the riders.
London, 17th September.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.