1908 Cultra Hillclimb

from the Belfast News-Letter of Monday, May l4th 1908.

MOTOR MEET AT CULTRA

Interesting Hill-Climbing Competition

The members of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club determined that the opening of the sailing season this year should be made additionally interesting by a motor-meet and hill-climbing competition, and favoured by delightful weather the fixture was a pronounced success from every point of view.

It will be remembered that it was originally decided to hold the contest on the 5th inst., but the rain that day was so incessant and pitiless that a postponement was unavoidable. No one, however, could find fault with Saturday afternoon, for the sun shone from an almost cloudless sky, the temperature was genial, and we had an antepast of summer. There was scarcely a breath of wind, so that all, or almost all, the interest was eliminated from the yachting events and the visitors centred their attention on the motorists and the time trials. The gathering at the Club House was large and fashionable. Emboldened by the bright and settled aspect of the day, the ladies did not hesitate to wear their most charming frocks, and the picture on the lawn and at the scene of the action was attractive and animated. Everything combined to make the scene a pretty one, while a gallant array of handsome and powerful motor cars showed how warmly the meeting was being supported.

There could not have been fewer than forty cars at Cultra, and it would have been an interesting bit of arithmetic to compute their value in the aggregate. The sum however must be a considerable one and the fact that so many of them are owned by members of the Club is also noteworthy.

The contestants were arranged in three classes. Class 1 was for cars of 15 horsepower and over: Class 2 for cars of 10 horsepower and under 15 horsepower and Class 3 for cars of under 10 horsepower. The road selected for the climb was kindly granted for the occasion by Mr R J Kennedy, C.M.G., D.I., whose interest in the affairs of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club is a source of great gratification to the members. Mr Kennedy, who was accompanied by the Honourable Mrs Kennedy, was present during the afternoon and evinced the greatest interest in the proceedings.

The hill has a total rise of l08 ft in the 700 yards mapped off for the trials, the average gradient being 1 in 18 1/2 and the steepest gradient 1 in 11.

The rules set out that the cars must be owned and driven by members and that no member should drive more than two cars in each class. The ladies were not forgotten in the arrangements, and in addition to the handsome prizes presented for speed, a competition was arranged for the fair passengers in the two larger classes. This was carried out as follows: while a car was proceeding up the hill one of the ladies in it was to try and throw a potato into each of six baskets or sacks placed en route on the driver's side, the displacement of the basket by a car or any slowing down to disqualify the car from further competitions. The number of successful throws and the speed of the car were the considerations determining the winners. The feat of dropping a tuber in each of the baskets is far from being so simple as it would appear, but one lady, Mrs Vincent Craig, managed to get four successful throws in the first class; and Miss Bostock, in Mr Robin Workman's car, placed the half-dozen and won the prize in the second class.

It was arranged to start the small cars first, and at a few minutes past three o'clock the competition commenced. The arrangements were so admirable that everything went off without the slightest hitch and some very good times were recorded. The handicapping committee did their part of the work very well indeed and the recent rains having allayed the dust, spectators were able to enjoy the trials in perfect comfort.

In Class 1, Mr James Cunningham's 30.40 h.p. Daimler made the journey in 56 secs and Mr H. C. Craig's 28.36 h.p. Daimler in 58 secs. Those were the best times but on the handicap Major T.V.P M`Cammon's 16 h.p. Minerva was placed first, his time being 1 min. 30 secs. Mr H Barbour's 35 h.p. Daimler, 1 min.12.6 secs., was second; and Mr R. Gaffikin's 20.30 h.p. Darracq,1 min. 20.6 secs., third. There were eleven competitors in this class, out of fifteen entries.

Of the thirteen entries for cars of 10 h.p. and under 15 h.p., seven tried conclusions. The best time was Mr R. E. Workman's 14 h.p. Minerva, the watch showing 1 min. 20.4 secs. Mr F. Gardiner's 10.12 h.p. Humber did the journey in 1 min. 32 secs. and the next best were Messrs. W. H. and J. Carson's 10.12 h.p. Argyll, the time being 1 min. 38.6 secs. These were the prize winners and, on the handicap, Mr Gardiner won first, Messrs W. H. and J. Carson second and Mr R. E. Workman third.

In the third class, there were again seven contestants, the total entry being nine. Mr J. W. Lemon's 6 h.p. De Dion won the first prize easily in 1 min. 53 secs.; Mr Alan Craig was second with 2 min. 14 secs. on a 5 h.p. Oldsmobile; and Dr Donnan third with an 8 h.p. Darracq, time 2 min. 12.2 secs.

Appended are details:-

CLASS I Cars of 15 horse power and over.

Mr Jas. Cunninqham 30.40 Daimler 56s Mr H. C. Craiq 28.38 Daimler 58s Mr H. Barbour 35 Daimler 1m. 12.6s Mr R. Gaffikin 20.30 Darracq lm. 30.6s Mr Granville Craig 19.22 Daimler lm. 24s(2nd) Mr F Workman 15 Darracq lm. 25s(3rd) Major T.V.P. M'Cammon 15 Minerva 1m. 30s Mr CharIes Lepper 15 Minerva 1m. 43.2s(1st) Mr W F Workman 15 Napier 1m. 51.6s Mr Vincent Craig 18 Mercedes 1m. 58.8s Mr Edwin Craig 15 Panhard 2m. 41.2s

Ladies Competition Winner Mrs Vincent Craig

CLASS II Cars of 10 h.p. and under l5h.p.

Mr R. E. Workman 14 Minerva 1m. 20.4s(3rd) Mr F. Gardiner 10.42 Humber lm. 32s (1st) Messrs W. H. & J. Workman 10.42 Argyll 1m. 38.6s(2nd) Mr Robert Workman 12 Darracq 1m. 49.6s Dr S. Brice Smyth 12 Darracq 1m. 51s MrW.Hume 14 Minorva 1m. 51.8s Mr J. G. Crawford 12.46 Clement 2m. 48.6s

Ladies Competition Winner Miss Bostock

CLASS III Cars under 10 h.p.

Mr J. W. Lemon 6 De Dion 1m. 53s (1st) Dr W. D. Donnan 8 Darracq 2m. 12.2s(3rd) Mr Alan Craig 5 Oldsmobile 2m. 14s (2nd) Mr T. W. Bloxam 9 Darracq 2m. 38.6s Mr R. A. Mitchell 8 Chambers 2m. 52.8s Mr H. 0. Craig 7 Oldsmobile 2m. 53s Dr D. J. Mitchell 8 Chambers 3m. 10.2s

Much of the success of the fixture is due to the great organising ability of Mr R. E. Workman who, with Mr John Lepper, superintended the arrangements generally. Mr H. C. Craig acted as starter and the timekeepers were Messrs Jack Carvin, James Ferguson. William Carson, A Turnbull and John Desmond, while the committee, who deserve the warmest thanks alike of competitors and the public, were Messrs H. Barbour, W. H. Carson, H. C. Craig, Granville Craig, R. Gaffikins, Charles W. Henderson, J. W. Lemon, Wm. C. Mitchell and R.E. Workman (Honorary Secretary and Treasurer).

The baskets for the ladies competition were in the charge of Messrs John Macoun, Geo. M'Ildowin Jun. and Archibald Lemon Jun. It should be mentioned that the prizes were supplied by Messrs Sharman D. Neill Ltd.

At the conclusion of the contests the visitors were hospitably entertained to tea in the clubhouse, where the "Cingalee" orchestra played a number of enjoyable selections. The prizes, which were kindly given by Messrs Granville Craig, R. Gaffikin, Charles W. Henderson, Wm. C. Mitchell and S. Jackson, were afterwards gracefully presented by the Honourable Mrs Kennedy, the winners being heartily applauded.

Sir Otto Jaffe J.P., in moving a cordial vote of thanks to the Honourable Mrs Kennedy, said they were all deeply indebted to her for her kindness. They united in wishing Mr & Mrs Kennedy bon voyage and hoped they would soon come back safely. (Applause).

The resolution was carried with acclamation. The Honourable Mrs Kennedy, in responding, said she was very much obliged to Sir Otto Jaffe for his kind words and good wishes expressed towards Mr Kennedy and herself on their long voyage. (Applause).

(Courtesy of "Spreader", journal of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club)