CYCLING ROAD RACE.

Otago Witness, Volume 06, Issue 2899, 6 October 1909, Page 59

CYCLING ROAD RACE.

WARRNAMBOOL TO MELBOURNE

A NEW RECORD.

MELBOURNE, October 3. The Dunlop Rubber Company's road ract from Warrnambool to Melbourne was de< cided yesterday, and was won by Knaggs, whose time was 7hrs 32min 29sec

The Warrnambool~to Melbourne race was inaugurated in 1895, when the long tour of 195 miles immediately became a centre of keen interest, and the source of much enthusiasm among cyclists. Three . classes were made on that occasion, starting one hour apart, and the race was' won by A. ,Calder, of the third class, in llhr 44min 30sec. New Zealand was first represented in 1901, when A. Ralston secured the prizes for the fastest time, and the next year ha and Calder were second and third fastest riders. In 1903, the Arnst brothers paid a. visit to Australia, *.nd their performances were almost startling. J. Arnst won from' scratch in 7hr 43min, establishing a world's record for the distance, and his brother was second in point of time. In 1904, R. Arnstt secured second fastest time again, with a performance .. of 7hr . 49min 22sec, Larcomba ■beating him bj a mmut* and a-quarter.. Next year Nelson v.as the only New Zealander to ride particularly well, taking Bhr 13min 52sec. In 1906 A. Birch and A. Humm, of Canterbury, started with 24m int to the gooo, and were placed second and third respectively H. E. Mehrtens made the fastest time, Bhi 53m in. In 1907, H. Henderson, A<- Birch, G. Smith, E. Boyoe. M Bryant, and G. Meharpy rodo for New I Zealand, and though the race was won by M. R. Dobie; of Victoria, and the New Zearlanders were a long way down for places, Henderson's riding time of 7hr 49m in 25seo was less than 9min slower than that of Laxcombe, v.ho lowered Arnst's record by 3m in. Last year 304 competitors started, and tha race was won by J, T. Donohue (N.S.W.), with W. Rennie (Victoria) second, and H. W. Sargent (Victoria) thiid. The following are the names and times of previous winners of the races over th« course : —

~" hr. m. a. 1395— A. Calder, 2hrs start ... 31 44 30 1896— J. Carpenter, scr .. .. 8 40 5 1897— W. C. Jackson, lOmin ... 9 51 91 1898— W Collins, 90min 9 50 50 1901— A. Nioa, 40min 9 20 40 1902— M. Chappell,- 55min ... 9 0 3 1903— J. Arnst (N.Z.), scr ..." 7 43 0 1904— J Wright, 38min .... 7 53 57, 1905— W. E. Hawley, 25min ... 7 52 26 1906— D. D. Ri ey, 28min ... 8 58 50 1907— M R. Dobie, 42rain .. 7 45 37. (This years' event was paced.) 1908— J. T. Donohue . . .. 8 0 38 FASTEST TIME. 1895— J. Carpenter (Vie.) ... 10 52 d 1896— J. Carpenter (Vie.) 8 40 515 1 1897— W. C. Jackson (Vie.) . 9 51 9 1898— W. Adams (Vie.) 9 8 45 1901— A. Ralston (N.Z.) ... . 9 30 0 1902 H. O. O'Callaghan (Vie.) 8 46 23 ISO3-J. Arnst (N.Z.) .. . . 7 43 0 1904— T. Lircombe (N.S.W.) ... 7 48 7i 1905— W. E. ETawley (Vie.) . . 7 52 2b 1906— H. Mehrtens (N.Z.) .. 8 53 52 1907— T. Larcombe (N.S.W.) . . 7 40 10 1908— M. Chappell (Victoria) ... 7 46 27