CHRISTCHURCH TO DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14486, 28 September 1910, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH TO DUNEDIN.

A NEW CYCLE RECORD. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dun edo.-,, Tuesday. Bikch, the well-known New Zealand cyclist, at six o'clock this morning started out from Christchurch to Dunodin, on an attempt to cover the distance within 12 hours. The official record stands to the credit of A. Calder, whose time, 18 hours 12 minutes, was put up in 1899, but Arnst

some two years ago covered the distance in 12 hours 21 minutes. As Arnst, however, was at that time a disqualified rider, the league refused to recognise his performance. Last April Birch made an attack on the record, but sustained a heavy fall when victory seemed well within his grasp. On the 20th inst. he made another attempt, but had to give up at Timaru owing to- a heavy head wind. • To-day he was more fortunate, for he succeeded in covering the

distance in 12 hours 57 minutes, which, although 36 minutes over Arnst'e time, established a new official record for the dis-

tance (243 miles). Birch had a very favourable journey, excepting that he met long stretches of newly-laid metal between Qamaru and Palmerston. He also broke all records between Christchurch and Timaru (112 miles), which he covered in four hours 43£ minutes. Birch received a great reception from the public on reaching the Dunedin poet office.