CYCLING

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4467, 21 September 1901, Page 7 (Supplement)

CYCLING

A VETERAN CHAMPION. The English “Cycler* 1 News” of July contains interesting accounts of a vete. ran cyclist’s performance in Manchester. The paper says:—“We recently published a number of letters about a veterans’ championship, and thereby much interest was created in the game. Unless riders over 60 years of ago can be brought together in a race, we think the palm must be awarded to Mr. David France, who recently rode 180 odd miles in 12 hours behind pacemakers. Mr France, who is 58 years of age, ig a grey-bearded veteran. He is 6ft. 7in., and weights 11 stone. He x-ocently called upon us to deposit a sum of money to endeavour to make a match with some rider over 50 years of age, and we took the opportunity cf eliciting some interesting information from this remarkable rider. He informed ug that he was in big 58th year, and was born at Whitchurch. He had no opportunities of entering into athletics until ha was 29 years of age. when he competed in. some long-distanee walking events, starting with a 60 miles ab the old Pomona Grounds, Manchester. He afterwards competed in a 75-hours’ race, and later distinguished himself in some six days’ contests. In one of tb©_ latter a "go as-you please” affair for six days and nightg in London, hie ran second with 383 miles to his credit, a splendid performance considering that he had only one man to look after him during the whole of the time, and as that man needed a fair amount of sleep. Prance was practically going “on his own” for half the journey. During that event he slept for 29 hours right off, being off the track the whole of one day. He took to cycling in 1891. Five years later he joined the Manchester Athletic Club, the Manchester Wednesday C.C-, and the Manchester Bohemian C.C. He entered for the last-named club’s 25 miles championship,.and although not placed, he rode so pluckily that,' he was awarded a special medal. In 1899 he competed for the medals which the Manchester Wednesday Club offered for good performances on the road, and in that year rode 170 miles in 12 hourA In 1900 he accomplished 168 miles, but he had very bad luok, having four punctures and other mishaps. This year he endeavoured to cover 185 miles in 12 hours for another of the same club’s medals, and if he could hare secured adequate pacing no doubt would have, accomplished that distance. As it was, ho rede 184 J miles in 12 hours, and the last four or five hours he said ho never felt-better in his life, and could have gone considerably faster if his pacemakers could have responded to his requests. His last ride haa put_ him in grand condition, and he is anxious for a match—-50 miles and upwards—with any rider in the world over 60 years of aso. ■ . . Ite also turned out on

Whit Thursday in an attempt to win one of the standard gold medals of the Manchester Wednesday C.C. fqg a 12 hours’ paced ride. France wag in fairly good form and harl not much doubt as to the result'. From Congleton to Whitchurch, a distance of 24 miles, was ridden without pace and against a strong wind, but going well the veteran cot through with 1811 mileg to his credit, two minutes inside the time.” The 'above gentleman is a brother of Mr George France, of this city.