SIX DAYS’ CONTEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 60

SIX D AYS’ CONTEST.

WON BY VICTORIANS. A SPLENDID FINISH. SYDNEY, January 2. Up to midnight the leading teams had covered 432 miles. There were eeveral attempts to break away. The riders were going well at 2.45 p.m. to-dav. Eleven teams had covered 680 miles* and two teams only a mile less. - January 3. At 2 o’clock this morning the leading teams contesting the reliability motor race (Sydney) had covered 850 miles. So far none scored any marked advantage, and all were reported to be going steadily. At 5 p.m. the leading cyclists had covered 1093 miles The Sullivan-Rodgere combination waa 14 miles behind, continuing slowly to 1800 miles to gain the £lO prize. The leading cyclists covered 1000 miles in 58hr 29min. January 4. At 5 o’clock the leading cyclists had covered 1428 miles. There waa no change in the positions. January 5. The Vickery-Priestly cycling team has retired. The remaining nine teams are still level, and the latest record is 1548 miles. The majority are riding as strongly as over. Some terrific sprinting is being done, and many desperate attempts have been made to win the prize for gaining a lap, but so far -without success. The cyclists have encountered the worst possible weather conditions. This morning in the sun the temperature reached 154 degrees, and it was accompanied by a strong hot wind. Early this afternoon a thunderstorm broke, and the rain deluged the track. The riders donned weird protecting garments, ranging from oilskins to blankets, and some carried open umbrellas. The rain continued all the afternoon, and the riding was very slow. Many of the competitors are musclebound, necessitating continual massaging. Seventeen hundred and ten miles had been covered at 5 p.m. January 6. The Gascoigne (England) and Lloyd (Victoria) teams retired after covering 1738 miles. The men were suffering from ptomaine poisoning, caused by eating oysters. The latest record of the seven leading teams is 1785 miles. Three other teams are a mile behind. The weather is fine. January 7. The cycling finished at 10 o’clock last night in the presence of a big and enthusiastic crowd- During the concluding hours there were many brilliant spurts. The back men made up lost ground, and the leaders gained advantages, which resulted in the positions being altered but little. Entering the last lap, Lawson (America)

was leading, with Goullet (Victoria) in close attendance, and Grenda (Tasmania) and Macnamara (New South. Wales) following. After a great struggle Goullet passed Lawson, and, finishing fast, won by a couple of lengths from Grenda, with Macnamara third, Lawson fourth, and Kirkham (New South Wales) fifth. Ten teams finished. Goullet and his mate (Heir) won the £SOO prize, Grenda and Walker £2OO, Macnamara and Gorry £IOO, Lawson and Mitton £75, and the fifth team £SO. The total distance covered was 2085 miles. All the competitors finished strongly, and were apparently little the worse of their strenuous efforts. Fifty-nine thousand peojile witnessed the finish. Tho Sydney Telegraph of December 30 states: —Without tho least exaggeration, it may be said of the best half-dozen teams in the big race that no bet tea - teams ever took part in a six days’ race in any other part of the world. Lawson (U.S.A.), Mir ton (U.S.A.), Goulctt, Hehir, and Gordon Walker have all ■ ridden in several of tho Yankee races, and gained renown. Of the i42-hour records for six days’ racing, Hehir, with Pyc as a team-mate, still holds 22 of them, while Dawson and Mitten also hold a number of them. All the abovementioned riders are awarded a place whan a selection of the best dozen riders in the world to-day is being made, and they are nil taking part in Sydney’s first six days’ race. Add to them riders like Grenda (Australian mile champion), R. J. M'Namara (regarded as the greatest all-round rider in Australia to-day). Corry, Gascoyne (England), Lloyd, Kirkham (the greatest road rider Australia has ever produced), and it will be seen that tho field is a very fine one. and should bo responsible for putting up a big mileage for their six days’ riding. The following are tho prizes:—First, £500; second, £200; third, £100; fourth, £75; fifth, £SO; sixth, seventh, and eighth, each £25. The above prizes out up £950, and, in addition, each of the other teams, unplaced, completing the journey, and riding a minimum of 1800 miles, will receive a special prize of £lO. There is also a special prize of £IOO for any Australian team boating the world’s record of 2737 miles 1 lap. The teams are as follow: — Ivor Lawson (U.S.A.) and W. Mitten (U.S.A.). A. C. Goulett (Vic.) and P. Hehir (Vic.). Gordon Walker (Vic.) and A. F. Grenda (Tas.). R. J. M'Namara (Dubbo) and F. P. Corry (Bathurst). D. Kirkham (Vic.) and A. C. Colvin (Vic.). P. B. Henry (Forbes) and A. L. Crook (Forbes). F. Keefe (Tas.) and S. Scnhouoo (N.S.W.). F J. Foxovor (Grafton) and P. Yeend (N.S.W,). J. W. Sullivan (Emmaville) and E. P. Rodgers (Queensland). E. Priestly (Sydney) and H. Vickery (Sydney). A. C. Walcott (Sydney) and C. Glencaoss ne (^cJwey) and pJ. Hird (Syd'f. J. Gascoyne (Eng.) and A. G. Lloyd (Vic.).