CYCLIST'S MISFORTUNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 60

CYCLIST'S MISFORTUNE.

ATTACK ON CHRISTCHURCHDUNEDIN RECORD.

A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. RIDER BADLY INJURED. Alfred Birch, a well-known cyclist, who Sas figured in several long-distance rides, on Wednesday essayed to cover the distance of 241 miles between Christchurch and Dunedin on a bicycle inside of 12 hours. The present officially-recognised holder of the record is A. Calder, who, on March 2, 1899, covered the distance in 18hrs 21min. This record has boen lowered by several other riders, but the times are not officially recognised by the League of New Zealand Wheelmen. For instance, J. Arnst has made the journey in 12hrs 21min Birch yevsterday sot out with the intention of lowering all previous records, official and unofficial By extraordinarily bad luck he was defeated in his object when success was practically in sight. The trial was made under the auspices of the well-known cycle and motor firm Adams (Ltd.l Christchurch. Birch rod* -a Swift bicvch?, and was raced bv three motors, ridden by G. B. Brown, W. A. Blundell, and B. M'Knight A Talbot motor car followed, containing Messrs A. S. Lindsay (secretary of the council of the League of Wheelmen), F. Howarth (mechanical engineer), George Birch (brother of the rider). East (Lyttfclton Times), and A. Kerr (driver). • Birch set out on his long ride from the Ohristchurch Post Office at two minutea past 5 o'clock -yesterday morning. He anticipated that he would, all going well, reach Dunedin at 5 o'clock in the evening. The. irorning was exceedingly dark, but fine, with jiut a suggestion of a head wind. A" driving mist, however, was soon run into, a*d prevailed right to Du»san«fof, 25 miles from Chrjfftohurch. Birch, however, wa« riding splendidly, and when Dunsand'sl <"*« »~wilujd it waa only 12

minutes past 1 6 o'clock; At 7.35 he had reached Ashburton, and 53 miles of the journey had then been covered. By 9.9 a.m. he had covered 89 miles, being then at Gcraldine. At this stage of the journey the front whee' of his machine collapsed, and the sparo machine that was carried on the motor car was immediately brought into service. One and a-hal F minutes were lost in making the change. Biding on without the slightest sign of fatigue, he reached Timaru (112 miles) at five minutes past 10, having then teen just live hours three minutes on the road, and having averaged 22 miles an hour. Oamaru (166 miles) was reached at 12.45, and after a stop of three minutes Birch went on his way again. It was two minutes past 2 o'clock _ when he passed through Hampden, having then covered 186 miles out of the total of 241. Previous to reaching Oamaru an average of 22 miles an hour had been maintained without Birch being fully extended, but the soing thereafter dropped away somewhat. However, after negotiating the Kartigi Beach road, he had increased his average to 21 miles an hour. He passed through Palmerston at 2.59 p.m., this representing 205 miles of the journcv. From this stage the various hills encountered were, naturally enough, not negotiated with the same amount of dash as previously, but still Birch was sticking to his task with surprising determination. With 27 miles to go, he was an hour and ahalf within his time of 12 hours, and once on the top of Kilmog Hill he started on the long run down at a pace which almost suggested that his machine had broken away from him. He must have been travelling at considerably over 30 miles an hour, and the pacing motorists had to fairly let out their machines to keep ins front of him. Turn after turn was rounded in fine style, when suddenly a trap was observed some yards ahead. A dog which accompanied it tried the nerves of the pacers, but they passed it safely. The dog was just on the point of running to the side of the road when Birch came up to it, and he had to take a sudden swerve to avoid it. His machine met some loose rubble, and in turning sharply to get away from this obstruction the wooden rim of the front wheel crumpled up like a piece of tissue paper, and: in a flash Birch -was lying on the ground fullv 15 yards ahead, tangled up in the ruins of the machine and lying motionless. The unfortunate rider had sustained a terrifio fall, and when picked up was unconscious and bleeding profusely. Fortunately, Mr Lindsay, secretary of the Council of the League of Whelmen, is also district chief superintendent for Canterbury of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and his services in the way. of first aid .yirere invaluable. The unconscious man was picked up, and, with wrappers and a mattress kindly provided by some people in the locality, a bed was made for him in the car,, and the journey to Dunedin slowly continued after some delay. It was anticipated in Dunedin that Birch would complete his ride at the Post Office just on 5 o'clock, and several hundred people there anxiously awaited hie coming. When the unfortunate . accident occurred Birch had 16 miles to complete and threequarters of an hour to- do it in, and r(s ipaoera( siay that there is not the sliglhfient doubt that he would have covered the whole journey in less than 12 hours: On reachincr Dunedin Birch immediately received medical attention. His injuries consisted of a eerious gash on the right temple, some badbruises on the face and on the legs, and he was.suffering from alight concussion of the brain. Fortunately, no bones were broken. Birch recovered. consciousness under treatment in Dunedin, and about 8 o'clock was removed to the Hospital, where he now lies. At latest advice he was reported to be doing well. ! The three pacers proved of great assistance to Birch during his journey, more especially in ascending the hills. Still, he showed great heart and great staying power throughout, and stuck closely to them at all times. He sustained six punctures on the road, and from these causes lost 15 or 20 minutes. It was a remarkable performance all the way. Birch last evening expressed the opinion that but for the smash he would have accomplished his ta«k, and avers that, immediately he has completely recovered he will again make an attempt to lower the record.