CYCLING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15715, 7 September 1911, Page 8

CYCLING.

j ( THE DUNLOP ROAD RACE. ! The acceptances for the Dunlop road '■ race number 121, and not 120 as pre- ! viously published. J. A. Johnstone, | who starts from the 32min mark, was i inadvertently omitted from the P 1 gramme. The arrangements for the race are now completed, and the weather boing favourable, a largo crowd is expected to witness the departure of the riders, at 8 a.nr. to-day, from the Hospital Corner. Programmes will ; be distributed to the public, which "'ill enable them to follow the progress of the race through to Timarti. A thorough system of tolegraphing, gi' ,_ ing the positions and the times of the riders passing through the various towns on route, has been arranged. HISTORY OF THE RACE. Tho Timarii-Christchurch road race was promoted by the Dunlop Rubber Company, and the first race was run hi 1899 and won by G. Metcalfe (49 min) in 7hrs 40min 4.1 see. The second race, in 1902, was a scratch event, and was won by A. Ralston, in 71irs loin in, with A. Calder second and R. and J. A nut, then novices, third and fourth respectivelyIn 1903 the placed riders were: —S. Barrow (25min), 7hrs 34min 30sec, 1; J. Arnst (loniiii), 7hrs 25min. 2: R. Arnst (lOmin), 7hrs 27min, 3. J. Arnst put up fastest time, but failed to lower the rocord, owing to adverse conditions, snow lying all along the South Canterbury roads. The men had to walk and carry their machines for ten to fifteen miles after leaving Rangitata. In 1904 better weather was experienced, and C. G. Smith (20min) won in 6hrs 19min 2sec, followed by H. P. Arnst (25min), 6hrs 19min 3scc, and W. M’Kenzie (32min), 6hrs 29min 54 sec, In 1905 the weather and road conditions wore very bad, but P.M. O’Connor won from 4omin in 6hrs 57min, from H. Henderson (smin), 7hrs 7min Slsec, and A. Humm (35min), 7hrs 12inin 9sec. Mehrtens put up fastest time. In 1906 G. W. A. Meharry, a West Coaster (38min), won in 6hrs 23min 18 see, A. Birch (34min) being next, 6hrs lOmin 38see, Simpson (50min) next, Glirs 35min 40sec. H. Mehrtens made fastest time, 6hrs 17min 16sec. In 1907 and 1908 the race was not held owing to uncertainty as to the action of the police, but in 1909 it was revived under the auspices of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen, and against a gruelling gale P._ O’Shea won off 45min in 7hrs 6min 55sec, L. Maw, of Dunedin (39min) being second, 7hrs Omin 26sec, and G. H. Birch (32 min) .third. 6hrs 53min 57sec. J. Arnst put up fastest time from scratch (6hr 34min 25sec), but was disqualified, and the prize was awarded to A. Birch, who did 6hrs 37min 25sec off the 3min mark.

Last year tho entries numbered 165. W. Arnst, a member of the famous family, won from the 25min mark in

shrs 37rain 4Gsec. A. B. L. Smith, how-

ever, beat even that phenomenal timo, riding the journey in 6hrs 30min 27 4-ssec.

Tho race was inaugurated by the Dunlop. Company to create an interest in the road riding of the bicycle, and to see whether the youth of New Zealand could compete with the road riders of Australia in the great Warrnam-bool-to-Melbourne road race; This New Zealand ridqrs have shown themselves well able to do. In 1901 A. Ralston got fastest time in the big race, and in 1903 J. Arnst went across and won from scratch, covering the 165 miles in 7hrs 43min, and putting up a then world’s record. R. Arnst secured second fastest time, and fourth place. In 1906 A. Birch and A. Humm filled second and third places, while H. Mehrtens put up fastest time, Bhrs 53min 52sec.