ONCE FAMOUS CYCLIST

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 187, 23 July 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

ONCE FAMOUS CYCLIST

JACK PARSONS GOES WEST. — AUSTRALIAN WHO BEAT ZIMMERMAN.

Jack Parsons, one of the wizards of the wheel in the ’nineties and a rider of international fame, died at the end of June after a somewhat brief illness at the early age of 56. In his time he was a rider of undoubted merit, and defeated the invincible A. A. Zimmerman (U.S.A.), who visited Australia in 1895. A dashing wheelman, Parsons was also versatile, as he won road championships in Victoria and other States and set up indoor records in U.S.A. Bays a Melbourne writer:— One of the first insights I had of Cycling was when, as a boy of eight, I saw Parsons dead-heat with “Plugger Bill” Martin in a five-mile scratch challenge race on the St. Kilda cricket ground. Parsons was a favourite not only with his colleagues but with the publie. He was known as “Handsome Jack” to many, and his appearance at (Carnivals always was a big draw.

Born in New South Wales in 1876, Parsons begin to show out in 1894, when he won over distances varying from half a mile to ten miles, including the ten-mile track championship of (Victoria in 26.15 —a then world’s grass frack record —while he also broke all Records from a mile to ten miles. Road honours came his way in 1895. (when he won the Victorian 50-mile title, 20-mile championship of the Victory Club, and the 50-mile track championship of Victoria, his time being 2 Ji. 7m 475. It was in this year that he defeated “Zimmy”—as Zimmerman Was better known —in a series of match faces, while he put up a world’s grass track record for a mile in 2.13. To thov» his marked versatility, in an hour pn the track he covered 23 miles 1696 yards.

In 189.6 he won the New South (Wales and West Australian track championships, while at Adelaide he shaped brilliantly in riding half a mile in 54s Bud a mile in 1.58 3-5. He reeled off A quarter in 275. Because of his ability and his personality, Parsons was tendered complimentary carnivals in Melbourne and [West Australia in 1896 to enable him Jo visit England and U.S.A. On arrival at London the champion decided to confine his energies to America, Where better inducements were offering.

He not only made his presence felt, but gave tI-> record book a severe jolt. [While in the States he set up a world’s t>ne-mile indoor record of 1.54 as well Bs putting up new figures for tho tjuarter-mile and half-mile. At Pennsylvania he registered 1.51 4-s—a State tecord —and later recorded 255. for the quarter and 51 l-ss. for the half. (Riding on grass, he was credited with (Covering half a mile in 58 4-ss.—a World’s grass track record. Returning to Australia, Parsons continued to ride with success, one of his most notable achievements of 1898 being to ride half a mile in 475. — a World’s record. His list of winnings and places Would take a book. In his day he defeated the pick of the world, including Buch men as Max Boidi (Italy), Martin (U.S.A.), CB. Kellow, Don Walker, J. Harris (England) and other noted Speed kings. On his retirement from the sport Partons went into the hotel business in Which he was engaged until the time Df his death, being licensee of the Tanti Hotel, Mornington. Recently parsons strained himself when lifting B case and never recovered.