1869 Crystal Palace Cycle Race
One of the earliest cycle race held in the UK
1869 April 5th. Announcement. 'On Easter Tuesday, a Two Wheel Velocipede Race will take place in the Palace Grounds, between Mr. Spencer and Mr. Mayall (who performed the Journey from London to Brighton in six hours), and several others.'[1]
1869 Report. 'A velocipede race came at the Crystal Palace on Monday in the presence of numerous concourse of spectators, amongst whom were many Frenchmen, the latter attracted by the fact that several of their countrymen were entered as competitors. There were three prizes, each consisting of a bronze vase, and ten starters appeared to contest their possession. The race was one mile, the ground selected being the terrace surrounding the upper series of fountains. Two preliminary beats were run, for each which five gentleman came to the post with their bycycles, the first and second gentleman in each event being Messrs. E. Moret and A. Charausonnay and Messrs. Michaux and Burnett respectively. These same gentlemen also started for the third and final heat, which was finished and the prizes awarded in the following order, viz.:— Messrs. Moret, Michaux, and Charausonnay. This was the quickest heat of three, the mile being accomplished in 5 minutes 29 seconds. Throughout the whole of the proceedings there was no competition in the general acceptation of the term, considerable distance separating the respective bycycles and their riders. The three gentlemen above named are Frenchmen, and M. Moret is considered the quickest velocipedist amongst our lively continental neighbours. M. Michaux, a youth 10 years of age, is the most accomplished, but owing to his lowness of stature probable some 5 feet 2 inches - which renders it necessary for him to bestride a vehicle with wheels of comparatively small circumference, it is impossible for him to contend successfully for speed against M. Moret. Taking the result of this trial a criterion, ten miles per hour would appear to be a high rate of speed to attain, and the average would probably be about seven.'[2]
1869 Results. 'The following were the results of the Velocipede race at the Crystal Palace on Monday:- Edmond Moret, from Paris, 1; Little Henri Michaux, from Paris, 2; A. Charansouney, from Paris, 3. The above all rode Michaux’s velocipedes. Ten ran, viz.:— Messrs. Burnett, John Garrod, W. S. Rosier, Booth, Spencer, John Mayall, jun., and Johnson.'[3]