A RECORD CYCLE RIDE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14972, 19 April 1909, Page 10

A RECORD CYCLE RIDE.

J. ARNST'S RECEPTION AT RAILWAY STATION. A large orowd of people assembled at the Cbristchurch railway station on Friday evening to welcome back the Christchurch-Dunedin record-breaker, J. Arnst. As the train pulled up, Arnst stepped off and was immediately surrounded by an enthusiastic group of admironi, shaking him by the hand and offering their congratulations. Mr E. H. James, of the Dunlop Rubber Company, called for three cheers for Arnst, which were heartily eiven. and the champion was carried shoulder-high from the station. Outside. Messrs Bell Brothers' car was drawn up close to the footpath, and on the footboard stood Mr T. E. Taylor. M.P., waiting to welcome Arnst on his return to Cbristchurch. Mr Taylor deliverpd a short speech to the large crowd present, in which he welcomed Arnst and congratulated him upon a splendid performance. When he had heard of the result, he said, he thought that it must have been more than a man who drove the machine some 240 odd miles iu record 'time. It was a magnificent performance, and he would liko to see the great heart that had accomplished such a splendid feat of endurance. If a man was to occupy a high position he must be possessed of the same qualities of grit and determination as Arnst. They were those which every man, whother an athlete, a business in an, or a politician, must have in order to succeed in life, and if he did not have them he muet soon drop out. He himself was not a strong man, but he was a goer—(cheers)—and he was very proud to have the opportunity of welcoming Arnst back. His performance was afi the more meritorious when it was considered that Arnst had had only a fortnight's training, having come " right off the turnips," and no doubt his success was in a great measure due to Messrs Bell Bros., who had attended him so well and provided him with a splendid machine, which had stood the strain without a mishap. Arnst, in reply, said that it was a great surprise to him to Bee Biich a Urge crowd present. Ho had thought that there would bo only a few, and that he would be able to sneak off home unobserved. He gave a lot of the credit for his record ride to his bicycle, which, apart from punctures, went through without even a slight breakdown. He thanked Mr Taylor for his kind expressions and the crowd for their enthusiastic reception. In the evening Arnst was entertained at an impromptu social at the Occidental Hotel, Mr E. H. James presiding. The proceedings were of an enthusiastic nature, and Arnst was given a hearty reception. In proposing the toast of "The Hero," Mr James sketched the career of the Arnst brothers, and said that their names were household words in the world of sport. In their respective spheres they were world's champions. ARNST INTERVIEWED. Interviewed by a reporter as to his ride, ' Arnst told an interesting story. "Everything went smoothly," he said, "and everything waa in favour. I had a splendid machine and apart from punctures nothing went wrong with it. Not a nut came loose, and I can tell you that is something when you consider that I weigh thirteen etone and the bicycle only twenty-six pounds. The fastest part of the .iourney was from Geraldine on towards Oamaru, where we did move along a bit. , We must have been going close on thirty miles an hour for a good tftretch there. I felt a bit done up at th. 3 Kilmog Hill, near Dunedin, where I got off and walked, but I soon recovered, and Mount Cargill, the last climb, did not trouble me much. What surprised me in Dunedin was the tremendous crowd of people that had assembled to see me finish. Wo couldn't move anywhere for the orowd, and they shouted out for Dick . t nd myself to get up on the seat of tl.o car bo that they could ee us." Asked as to whether, with a bit more +-aining, he could do better time Arnst was doubtful. Tho conditions might not be so favourable, and ho might hot feel as fit as he should do. But the determined air with which he said he would have a good try gave the impression that, all things being favourable, he would put up a still more splendid performance.