CIRCULAR ROAD RACE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144198, 15 September 1913, Page 2

CIRCULAR ROAD RACE.

The Kaponga correspondent of the Hawcra Star writes;—The intelligence that the “Little Mountain Town had again vindicated itself—this time ui providing the winner of the Round the Mountain Cycle Race—if it did not cause surprise, produced considerable jubilation, when it was learned that a local resident had succeeded in winning an event of some moment in the athletic world, doing honour to himself and the place ho tails from, and incidentally shedding a little lustre on Taranaki in general. Sheppard is an athlete who has worked very hard ‘ for the win ho has obtained, and it was generally conceded that his efforts merited some recognition by fellow Kapongaites. To this end ho was accorded a public reception by the chairman of tho Town Board and residents on his return on Friday evening. Tho hand, under Conductor Allen, provided music suitable to the occasion and speeches were delivered by Mr. A. H. Guy (Town Board chairman), Mr. Betts (as a member of tho committee controlling the race), and Mr. W. R. Brant (county foreman), Mr. Sheppard being an employee'of the council’s. All eulogised the winner and his achievement. Mr. Guy referred incidentally to the list of triumphs, which had been nulled off in recent years, by Kaponga residents, individually and collectively—no mean record, for tho size of tho community, andjiossibl.v without parallel in the Dominion. In addition to tho valuable prizes Sheppard brought homo with him, he was tho recipient of a handsome gold medal, suitably inscribed, indicating Kaponga’s appreciation of his win. The hero of tho occasion replied in good fashion, thanking all concerned for their kindness and congratulations. Tho gathering closed with hearty cheers.