CHAMPION CYCLIST

Evening Star, Issue 25226, 13 July 1944, Page 7

CHAMPION CYCLIST

ANDREW DEATH

Memories of cycle racing in Us heyday are recalled by the death last week-end of Mr Andrew Ralston, of Allanton, at the age of 66. He and his brothers Neil and Peter were, outstanding performers who took part in many exciting races on the Caledonian Ground and in numerous road races.

Andrew Ralstcn twice gained fastest tirue in the Timaru-to-Christchurch road race, and he was selected to represont New Zealand in the classic Warrnambooi-to-Mel-bourne race. In 1901 he,rode the 165 miles in nine hours to' gain fastest, time, and the following year he was awarded a certificate of merit for his performance in the same race. In spite of having to ride on three different cycles through the rain and mud he completed the course in 8 hours S 4 minutes. He had many other successes on the road and track, and always his name stood high for sportsmanship. During the last war, long after his retirement, he reappeared in a veterans' wheel race at a. patriotic" gathering in Timaru. He was a keen sportsman, and this year was the first occasion for nearly 50 years on which he had missed the opening of the'duck shooting season. He is survived by his wife, two sons—Messrs Iver Ralston (Ashburton) and Percy Ralston (who is a prisoner of war in Germany)—and a daughter, Mrs A. W. Egan (Dunedin). A nephew, Albert, Ralston, who performed with distinction in the Warrnambool-to-Melbourne road race net so many years ago, served with the Australian forces in Burma, and is now a prisoner of war. Another nephew, Clarence Ralston, who did well in track and road racing in Otago, is serving in Italy.