Track Racing

Bicycle racing on tracks did not begin well in Scotland. The first formal bicycle race took place in April 1869 as part of the opening of the Kelvinside Race and Recreation Grounds, in Maryhill, Glasgow. Billed as ‘Great Velocipede Races’, the event consisted of two races with the winners promised a silver cup and the runners up a gold ring. The crowd, including ‘a goodly sprinkling of carriages filled with ladies and gentlemen’, that had come to watch were entertained by the Maryhill Brass Band, ‘elaborately dressed in black velvet hunting caps, scarlet jackets and white trousers.’ Perhaps the offer of velocipedes available free of charge for anyone wishing to enter was unwise as some of those who entered were less than proficient and  the race did not go as planned: ‘We regret to announce that the arrangements were of a very crude nature and the velocipede races could not be considered fair ones at all. In the first place no fewer than nine competitors started on a course of about four or five yards wide and the race was no sooner in motion than several of the riders came to grief. Although the course had been partially cleared for the start, no sooner had it begun than the crowd rushed in, and not only cheered their respective favourites, but even lent a helping hand by pushing the velocipedes on which they were mounted. The consequence of this intermixture of crowd and competitors was that a number of the latter were rolled over. In the first race several persons who were undoubtedly very clever and perfect riders were kept in the background by the crowd, while others who were more to the front of the race knocked each other down, fouling evidently being allowed to all intents and purposes. The second race was no better and at its termination the silver cup was seized and literally smashed by a person who avowed he had been knocked off his bicycle during the race. Last of all the ground was in wretched condition and totally unfit for velocipede careering.’[1]

The craze for the velocipede led John Cox, owner of Edinburgh’s Royal Patent Gymnasium, to open a specially built wooden velocipede track in July 1869. There people could try one of his stock of machines under the watchful eye of Mr Bathgate, the Gymnasium’s velocipede instructor and races were held. The massive Royal Patent Gymnasium had opened four years earlier and was advertised as ‘The New Wonder of Edinburgh’, though it was of such scale it could have well been advertised as a Wonder of the World. Cox, a businessman and philanthropist, wished to provide the city’s residents with ‘a safe and healthful place of amusement’ and created what was a cross between a gymnasium and an amusement park.  Among the extraordinary attractions were ‘The Great Sea Serpent’, an enormous circular rotary boat in a pool of water in which up to six hundred people at a time could sit and row; a giant see-saw named ‘Chang’ which was 100 feet long and 7 feet broad; and a huge pendulum swing which held approximately 100 people. Cox also mounted athletic meetings for large prizes that drew professional athletes from far and wide, and attracted large paying crowds. ‘Upwards of 15,000 persons attended the Royal Patent Gymnasium where the feature of attraction was, of course, the foot races. Every inch of ground that commanded a view of the course was as densely packed as figs in a firkin.’[2]

Early in August Robert Klamroth arrived in Edinburgh, having ridden all the way from London and within days took out an advert: ‘Klamroth, the great Velocipedist, who has just run down from London in 65 hours, teaches gentlemen to ride. Charge, 10s 6d. K. is prepared to run a bicycle race against any gentleman for a distance of from 5 to 10 miles.’[3] Mr Bathgate accepted the challenge, no doubt encouraged by Mr Cox as around 5,000 spectators paid to watch the two men race over five miles around the Gymnasium's track. While Klamroth took the lead early on, Bathgate passed him and finished a quarter-of-a-mile ahead in a time of 30min 38 seconds.[4]  Alongside that race there also were two open races, one for professionals for a prize of £3 and one for amateurs for a gold medal. Blackwell raced in the professional race and won. Two cyclists from Dundee, Messrs Wallace and Stile, later complained that they had arrived to race in the professional race with their own velocipedes, but had been told they had to use Gymnasium’s machines and that these would be randomly issued. They protested that this was unfair and declined to race. Instead they issued a challenge to Bathgate that he race them in Dundee with the loser to pay £20 to the winner. Bathgate took up the challenge and a few weeks later travelled to Dundee to race them in the city’s Pleasure Grounds. The local paper noted that Wallace and Stiles had ‘never before materially distinguished themselves in a race’ and thus the bets that were laid favoured Bathgate. The race began in rain and immediately the two Dundee competitors fell while Bathgate cycled away. However, on the fifth lap Wallace, and then Stiles, passed Bathgate and the Dundee duo won by 150 yards, thus jointly claiming the prize. Clearly a factor was that their machines were 30lbs lighter than Bathgate’s 83 lbs velocipede.[5]

From the 1850s on, day-long summer games were held in many parts of Scotland and these popular events included competitive Highland dancing, piping and athletics, such as running, pole vaulting and putting the shot, for which cash or other prizes were awarded. Some events were reserved for locals while others were open to all comers. There also were light-hearted contests such as sack races. The first of these summer sports days, the Strathallan Games (later renamed the Highland Gathering) at Bridge of Weir began in 1852 and by 1869 was a grand affair: ‘About midday several excursion trains from surrounding towns and districts brought many thousands persons to the scene, and very considerably swelled the already large assemblage, and at times there were assembled round the ring probably between 6,000 and 8,000 spectators. The events were forty in number, and as in several of the competitions the entries were large, the games, which commenced shortly after ten, were not concluded till about seven in the evening, although the arrangements in every respect were perfect, and the events pushed forward with spirit. The total money value of the prizes offered for competition reached about £100. This substantial inducement succeeded in bringing to the arena several first-class competitors, and in the leading events there were numerous aspirants for honours.’[6]

Among the forty events in 1869 was a velocipede race and six competed for the first prize of a silver cup: ‘There was a bicycle race of a mile which created much interest and amusement. The silver cup was easily gained by James Neill of Glasgow who showed himself a thorough master of his machine.’[7] The popularity of the velocipede race ensured it was again part of the 1870 games and on that occasion was won by R. Munro, the owner of a velocipede school in Edinburgh. Other summer games were equally quick to include velocipede races. The Forfar Games held one over two miles, ‘which was well contested, there being no fewer than twelve competitors.’ What the winner received is not related but the local paper commented: ‘We consider the prizes for the bicycle race to be small, in consideration of the work done.’ At Forfar a new velocipede event was introduced: ‘The tilting at the ring with bicycles possessed considerable attraction, being something new.’[8] This was a version of tilting on horseback that evolved from the time of knights whereby the rider had to put a lance through a hanging ring while riding.

The local games in Morayshire in 1869 held a race for both bicycles and tricycles: ‘The velocipede race took place immediately after the foot race, and, attracted by the novelty of the proceedings, the large concourse of people which had watched the other games with the utmost order throughout the day, broke up and thronged the road leading to the hotel. There were four velocipedes entered for the race, three bicycles, ridden by young men from Forres, and a tricycle, ridden by Mr Nicol, photographer. The starting post was the western corner of the Marine Hotel, and the road to be traversed lay along the carriage drive through the links, up Cumming Street, and then along the hill to the hotel. The course was not a good one, nor very convenient for the purpose. One or two collisions occurred during the race - Russell's machine upset a few yards after start; and a little further on the tricycle steered accidentally in front of another, which came to grief in consequence. Winner: A. Auckland (Forres).’[9]

High wheel bicycle races began to replace velocipede races at local games, although as not many owned one outside the main cities, the competitors often were few. At the Elgin Highland Games in July 1878 only three competed; Mr McNemee of the Inland Revenue and two brothers, William and John Inch: ‘The bicycle race was perhaps the most interesting event for the onlookers, the ‘Ariel’ being still a modern invention, and few found who can ride it with skill. At the starting word ‘Go’, the youngest of the three took the lead, and kept it for a little while, although it was easily seen, from the terrible anxiety which his excited face depicted, and the occasional wobble with which his machine swayed to and fro, that he could not maintain successfully the lead throughout the allotted two miles of the race. Bye and bye he was overtaken. The third in the race, who rode a high wheel, and managed it with ease and consummate skill, at last very imperceptibly increased his speed and passed first one of his rivals, and then the other, justifying the opinion of the onlookers that he would be the ultimate winner, and from the outset had been reserving his strength for the closing effort. He came in first, fully a hundred yards in front of the man immediately behind him and perhaps about four hundred before the third. He was received at the winning post with the applause of the spectators, who had admired the courage and confidence displayed, and the gracefulness of his seat in the saddle.’[10]

Most of the annual games were held in fields or parks and riding a high wheel bicycle on rough, uneven grass would have been difficult as a race at the Jedburgh Border Games in 1880 indicates: ‘In former years the race has taken place between the Market Place and Bongate Toll, but it was suggested as an improvement it should take place in the Lothian Park where the other events were taking place. The ground is somewhat uneven, and stiff for the bicycles, and the riders appeared to have fairly hard work. Unfortunately, rain began to fall heavily when the competitors were preparing to start, and it was run pluckily amid a perfect downpour of rain, while the lightning flashes were frequent and vivid, and the thunder loud and resonant. Most of the people assembled were driven from the park. The race was persevered with however, notwithstanding the extreme difficulties.’[11] The winner was W. Deans from nearby Hobkirk who won a ‘Gold Appendage, value £2’.

Possibly the last velocipede race in Scotland took place at the Almond Valley and Lynedoch Games in Pitcairngreen in Perthshire in August 1884. If so, Mr L. G. Wright who won may unknowingly have claimed the title of the last Velocipede Champion of Scotland.

The arrival of the faster high wheel bicycle led to the formation of more bicycle clubs, and it was these clubs that took on the role of coordinating amateur track racing. One of the earliest to race on a high wheel bicycle was a Scot, Ion Keith Falconer, although almost all his racing took place in England. Falconer was born in Edinburgh, a son of the 8th Earl of Kintore, and took up riding a velocipede while a boarder at Harrow School. When he went to study at Cambridge University he bought a high wheel bicycle and his unusual height for the time of 6ft 3in gave him an advantage in powering his machine. While still a student at Cambridge he won his first race. In a letter to his sister-in-law in November 1874, he wrote: ‘Yesterday was the ten-mile bicycle race. Three started. I was one. I ran the distance in 34 minutes, being the fastest time, amateur or professional, on record. I was not at all exhausted. Today I am going to amuse the public by riding an 86-inch bicycle to Trumpington and back. There is a little scale of steps up it, up which I was helped, and then started off and left to myself. It is great fun riding this leviathan: it creates such an extraordinary sensation among the old dons who happen to be passing.’[12] Among his many subsequent successes was winning the Amateur Bicycling Championship over four-miles in 1876 and, two years later, coming first in the National Cyclists' Union two-mile championship at Stamford Bridge. This earned him the status of world champion as until the creation of the International Cycling Association the NCU's championships were considered the unofficial championship of the world. In 1881 he wrote: ‘It is a great advantage to enter for a few races in public, and not merely to ride on the road for exercise, because in the former case one has to train oneself and this involves abstinence from beer and wine and tobacco, and early going to bed and early rising, and gets one's body into a really vigorous, healthy state.’[13] Falconer remained an amateur rider, very much in the mould of a ‘gentleman amateur’, and won many races, and the reputation as the fastest cyclist of his era.

In 1868 land at East Powderhall in the Canonmills area of Edinburgh was acquired by a group of businessmen and there they built Powderhall Grounds, a sports stadium with an athletics track and two small spectators' stands. In 1872 a velocipede race was held there between Mr Bathgate, the velocipede tutor, and Mr Miller over five miles for a stake of £30 and the title of Champion of Scotland; apparently a title that Bathgate had somehow laid claim to. Bathgate led from the start but on the last lap Miller began to close and was just about to overtake his opponent when his machine played up, and Bathgate won by a mere two feet, having completed the five miles in 22 minutes 43 seconds.[14]

In July 1878 Edinburgh Amateur B.C. organised the first Scottish track race meeting for high wheel bicycles at the Powderhall Grounds. It had one of the only cinder tracks in Scotland at the time and as the other tracks at the time were grass, a slower surface for cycle racing, the stadium became Edinburgh’s most significant venue for bicycle racing up to the First World War. However, one drawback of the faster cinder surface was it was less kind than grass to cyclists who took a tumble: ‘Some of the best racing men have been badly disfigured about the face, elbows, and knees after an accident on the cinder track. Wounds should be superficially sponged over quickly to remove the surface cinder, then the edges of the wound, which resemble a series of parallel deep scratches, should be pulled gently apart, and the cinders which lie in them gently removed with the corner of a towel or a bit of sponge, frequent washing with water being necessary. The pain in some cases is considerable, in others the force of the blow temporarily dulls the nerves, and advantage should be taken of the fact. In cases of insensibility a similar course should be followed. On one occasion within our knowledge a friend seized a stiff nailbrush and brushed out a deep wound, with the double result of bringing the patient to his senses by the combined effect of pain and blood-letting and also of extracting all the cinder. Heroic remedies like these should, however he gently used, under the eye of a doctor, if by any.’[15]

Although the first race event mounted by Edinburgh Amateur B.C. did not draw quite as large a crowd as hoped, it was judged a sufficient success for the event to become an annual fixture. This was a significant step as The Field - the country gentleman’s newspaper - pointed out many years later: ‘No Scottish club is more worthy of honour, or deserving of praise, than the Edinburgh Amateur. The first wheel organisation established north of the Tweed, it has, in the face of all opposition, continued to be the leading one, and the pioneer in everything that has tended to popularise wheel riding amongst the Caledonians. These same enthusiasts, too, were the first to combat the absurd prejudice against patronising a professional enclosure, and they have now the satisfaction of seeing their example followed, and every meeting of note is held at Powderhall, which can claim one of the finest tracks in the kingdom.’[16] The prejudice referred to was that held by many amateur sportsmen of the day who not only were against amateurs appearing at the same events as professionals but also believed it unethical for any amateur event to take place at a stadium where professional sporting events were held.

In England professional cyclists raced for substantial wagers and prize money. These races attracted large numbers of spectators and significant press interest: ‘A large number of persons were at the Lilliebridge Grounds in London’s West Brompton to witness the fifty miles bicycle race for £100 between Stanton, the famed long distance rider, and Camille Thuillet, the champion of France.’[17] The prize was equivalent to around £10,000 in today’s money but this was not an uncommon prize in professional athletic races at the time. As upwards of 4,000 paid one shilling entry such prize money still left the organisers in profit.

At this time there was no equivalent significant professional racing in Scotland and so, in 1876, Samuel Rawson, one of the top English professionals, was paid to race at the Springfield Recreation Grounds in Glasgow. The Derbyshire rider competed against four Scottish riders for a prize of £100. The four Scots included J. Gemmell who was billed as the Scottish champion although how and when he gained that title is unknown. The Scottish riders were given a start of two and a half miles but Rawson won easily. A year later, at the Powderhall Grounds in Edinburgh, in front of a huge crowd, Rawson and another English cyclist, John Keen, jointly billed as ‘the champion bicycle riders of the world’, raced over 25 miles. Keen, reputed to be the fastest rider in the world, ‘gave Rawson six minutes start. The latter had covered about one mile and three quarters when Keen got the word to go. Keen passed Rawson in the 74th lap and won by 80 yards in a time of one hour, eight minutes, and fifteen seconds.’[18] In 1877, again at Powderhall, 10,000 paid to watch Keen race for one hour against a Mr Muirhead who rode on horseback. Muirhead was allowed three horses and changed between them six times, and won by just three yards. Both completed 18 miles and it was reported that ‘Keen’s performance was extraordinary, as he had to go very wide at the turns, so that the distance done in the hour was increased.’

As more cycle clubs formed, amateur racing expanded, although the growth was slow compared with England. By 1880 there were only around 40 clubs in Scotland and a dozen club races, whereas in England there were 400 plus clubs holding well over 350 races. The track races in Scotland in the early years were mainly over distances of one or two miles. Cycle track racing expanded significantly when amateur bicycle races were included in the athletic sports days mounted by Scottish football clubs. These events drew large crowds and one of the first to include cycling was Queen’s Park Football Club in September 1880 at its sports day held at Hampden Park in Glasgow. The cycling proved popular and cycle races soon featured in the programme of other clubs’ sports days. This led many football clubs to improve their tracks to attract better cyclists and some football clubs even mounted bicycle races as half-time entertainment during football matches.

Celtic Football Club was formed in the late 1880s with the objective of raising money to feed the children of the disadvantaged Irish immigrants in Glasgow’s East End. It was encouraged to build a banked concrete cycle track so it could host the International Cyclists' Association’s World Championships in 1897 and that made it the primary venue for cycle events until the track was removed in 1913. It measured three-and-a-half laps to the mile.[19] Over 20,000 paid to watch the opening cycling event on the new track and with large spectator numbers attending cycle races at Celtic Park and other football grounds, cycle manufacturers supported and promoted racing. Almost all the racing was amateur and winners received prizes rather than cash. At the 1910 Amateur Athletic Sports meeting held at Celtic Park the first prizes for the cycle races were ‘a Chippendale Gong Clock, a Fine Oak Barometer in Richly-Carved Frame, a Pair of Handsome Sheffield Plate Candelabra and a Solid Silver Liqueur Service in Case.’[20]

In many of the events cyclists were paced by other riders, sometimes for part of the race if not throughout, but early newspaper reports seldom state whether pacing was involved or not. Some track races were limited to specific club members while others were events open to all amateur riders. Cycle clubs often organised a run to wherever a sports day was being held, especially if some members were entered in races, with the non-competing members cheering on their fellows. Afterwards all would ride happily, or disappointedly, home. Cyclists often trained on the football ground tracks but this had its hazards. In 1890 a member of the East of Scotland Cycle Club was riding his safety bicycle at Hamden Park ‘when he had a nasty fall caused by a football coming in contact with his wheel. He is not likely to be out again this year.’

The large crowds for cycle events also encouraged universities and others to develop new or improved tracks. ‘The Glasgow bicycle races were held on the new cinder path at Anniesland. The attendance was not large as the track is not conveniently got at which is to be regretted as the track is a very good one, and can compare favourably with the one at Kilmarnock which is considered next in point of excellence to Powderhall.’[21]

Although no track racing took place during the First World War it soon recommenced and continued to attract crowds. For one major event at Celtic Park in 1930 special trains were laid on to bring spectators to the ground. The main attraction was a cycle race between Willie Mackenzie from Elgin and W. J. Bailey, four-time world amateur champion, although by this time Bailey was in his early forties.’[22] ‘W. M. McKenzie, Elgin, the Scottish professional champion, worthily upheld the honour of Scottish cyclists at Celtic Park, Glasgow, when he met the famous English cyclist and world record holder, W. J. Bailey over three distances - quarter-mile scratch race, half-mile scratch race, and two miles pursuit race. In the "quarter" the Scotsman dashed away right from the outset to win by 80 yards, his time being 37 sec. McKenzie practically had a walk-over in the half-mile, winning by quarter of a lap. The two miles pursuit race proved equally easy for Elgin's champion. In a motor-pacing exhibition, H. M. Ellis, the eminent London motor-pacer, unsuccessfully attempted to break his one and three mile records'.[23]

Although newspapers carried accounts of cyclist breaking records there was no structured approach to documenting these in any formal way. From 1932 the Scottish Amateur Racing Association began to authenticate and record some and one of the first was achieved by J. Quigley of Lanarkshire Roads Club in May of that year: ‘Sunday was by way of being a red letter day in Scottish racing circles for J. Quigley won the Western Wheelers’ 25 Mile in the amazing time of 1 hour 3mins. 56 secs., knocking two minutes off the Scottish National record which has stood for several years. This time of Quigley's is really astonishing, as it had been considered almost impossible for anyone to get inside 65 minutes on this course. The morning was very windy and unsuitable for fast times, and it is now considered quite possible that, given an ideal morning, Quigley may be the first rider in the world to beat one hour for 25 miles on an out and home course.’[24] The following year Quigley did try for the one hour record but failed. However, he was the first recorded as having held the 25, 50, and 100 miles Scottish records, the latter two being achieved on his first attempts at the distances.

After the Second World War track racing continued but, like many other sports, the dominance of football in Scotland meant cycle races no longer attracted large crowds and went relatively unnoticed. Even grass track racing at the annual summer games lost popularity. At the 1960  Jedburgh Border Games it was reported that ‘the cycle racing had few entrants’.

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