THREE FINE FEATS

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 138, 13 June 1913, Page 3

THREE FINE FEATS.

The Sydney-Melbourne overland route has been-responsible for three very fine performances—E. A. Pearson's cycle ride of 49 hours; J. Bolger's motor-cycle run of 23hrs. 41 mins., and A. V. Turner's recent motor-cai- record of 19hrs 2mins'. All three are remarkable feats, but judging them as physical tests, the writer would unhesitatingly give the palm to Pearson. His was a wonderful feat of endurance, spread over 49 hours without sleep, and practically all the time he was having to propel himself over hill and dale. During the 565J miles run from Sydney to Melbourne he never walked a hill, and there are many mountain ranges to be crossed on this roiite. In the first twenty-four hours he covered 306£ miles, and yet at the finish of the ride—and what a rough one it was — he was riding faster than at any other portion of the route*. The writer had the pleasure of watching Pearson's great ride right through on a car, and is of the opinion that it will never be beaten whilst the road is in its present condition. From a physical point of view, the writer also places Bolger's motor-cycle ride ahead of Turner's fine car drive, for whilst the latter performance was a magnificent one in every way : the physical element does not enter into the performance to the same extent as holding a 2001b motor-cycle up over all descriptions of roads and tracks for nearly a day. Turner's _ drive was more a matter of nerve vitality, and good driving, although it was undoubtedly tiring sitting at the steer-ing-wheel for 19 hours; As an endurance test it has to give preference to both Pearson's and Bolger's performances.