1898

for my first race, the mile novices handicap. Edwards was a on scratch, and several men in between he and I and one man ten yards in front of me. I will never forget when I got onto my machine (always left foot up with me) I felt so excited and eager, my heels were bobbing up and down with nervousness. Then the pistol cracked I shot away so quickly I nearly ran into the man in front, but having been advised to keep behind him to let him make pace, I did so. After travelling like this for a quarter of a lap, I thought “By Jove this is too slow for me”, and what was worse I had a feeling that someone was coming up behind me; so I bolted, and for two laps made things hum; but lo when I looked round I was ½ a lap in front. I thought “Now I’ve made a mess of it”, and slackened off as the bell rang for the last lap. I meandered around the track for the last lap, remembering that my father had told me never to look around whilst racing, and although the crowd was yelling itself hoarse and gesticulating like maniacs, I took no notice, untill about ten yards from the finishing post I heard a whizz of wheels, and there was Edwards passing me at top speed. I got such a shock that I nearly threw myself over the handlebars in my terrific efforts to get a move on, but I was too late, Edwards beat me by six inches on the post.

My father was wild that I had lost the heat, but also pleased to see the way I could ride, and as I told him I could have sprinted out for the whole mile, there wasn’t much chance of Edwards doing the same thing again.