CYCLING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6069, 27 October 1887, Page 3

CYCLING.

The Hurunui Record Broken. Anyone happening to pass the CarltonHotel yesterday afternoon, after three o'clock, would have noticed a group o£ cyclists eagerly scanning the Papanni road, and if an enquiry had been made as i to the cause, the answer would readily have been—" Why, don't you know ! Jos. Painter is on the road, trying to break t Duncan's Hurunui record; and we expect . him every minute." Soon someone in white j is seen riding at break-neck pace down the i road. The cry i 8 raised, " Here he cornea/ : True enough, ib is he, followed by two or i three enthusiastic friends who had gone to j meet him. Watches' are out at once, and a stand is taken at the telegraph post in front/ of the hotel to check the time. No sooner does he pass the post than three hearty cheer 3 are given, and tho word is passed .- i <r He has beaten the other record by 29 minutes. Hurrah ! " Friends crowd round eager to Bhake hia hand. He io rushed into the hotel, and once more receives a hearty welcome. . Perhaps some will want to know, "What is this Hurunui record ? " Well, a few years ago, a race to Hurunui and back (114 miles) was got up, the Messrs F. and J. Painter (G.8.C.) being the winners; Langdown (P.8.C.) and others also competing. At the beginning of la9t season Mr Duncan (P.B.C, who i 3 now in Scotland) made an attempt to worst the Messrs Painter, and succeeded, doing the distance in lOh 16min. Not to be beaten, the two brothers determined to redeem their lost laurels, and made several unsuccessful attempts, owing to bad weather, roads, &c. On one trip Mr F. Painter got within 200 yds with 3min to spare, and unfortunately had a "cropper," and was rendered insensible. So the season passed, and the Pioneer Club still retained the record. However, as soon as this season commenced, Mr J. Painter resolved to keep up the honour of his Club, and arranged to go last week, but the Clerk of the Weather ruled otherwise, for bad weather came on the very morning he was to start. Not daunted, yesterday morning was chosen for another attempt, the weather, for the first time, being favourable ; and what was the result ?— Success. It is said that success attends the brave, and Mr Painter is to be congratulated on his triumph. Could there be a better sample of true British pluck and determination, or of the strength and determination of our Colonial youths ? The following is an account of the' journey : — [ Going. — At G a.m. a number of wheel- I men met to witness the start. The weather was all that could be desired, only a slight westerly wind blowing, which, would neither assist nor retard bicycle riding. Mr Allen was chosen time-keeper, and at G. 3 the card was signed, and Mr Painter mounted his machine and was off. Mr Bargrove went part of the way to Kaiapoi. The road to Kaiapoi was rather loose, as cattle had been driven over it recently. This place was reached at 6.53 a.m., Amberley at S.lB, Waikari at 9.47, and Hurunui at 10.40 a.m. A northwest wind was met with after passing Waikari. The roads after passing Kaiapoi were hard, but a number of loose stones were lying about as far as the other side of Ashley Bridge, three-quarters of a mile being exceptionally bad ; thence it was fair to Leithfield. There having been a freshet in the river Kowai, the bed was very rough, and Mr Painter had to walk and push his bicycle for about a mile. The road was then fair to the railway crossing before reaching the Waipara river, whence it was very bad ; in fact hardly rideable. There having also been a freshet in the Waipara, tke record-breaker Had again to walk. To Weka Pass the road was in splendid order; fair along the Waikari hills, excepting three-quarters of a mile ot new shingle ; and bumpy to Hurunui, Bheep , having been travelling along the road, one place being unrideable. The stoppages on tho way were at Waikari for a cup of tea and at Hurunui. Returning. — No sooner was Mr Painter started on his return journey than a sou'wester sprang up, and blew pretty stiffly in the face of the rider to the Waipara, when the wind shifted to the nor*-west, from which quarter it blew for the remainder of the journey. At Waikari, which was ' reached at 11.20 a.m., Mr Painter | stopped for five minutes, and had j a cup of tea. At Amberley (1.20 p.m) Mr F. Painter met Ida brother, and brought him along as far as Woodend, when Messrs Andrews and Raynor joined them. Kaiapoi was reached at 2.59 p.m., when Mr Nankiveil made one of the company. A stoppage was made here for ten minutes for refreshments, and a start was then made for home, the pace being terrific, and the Carlton Hotel was reached at 3.50 p.m., thus doing the distance in 9b. 47mia, and beating the former record by 29min. Mr PaintePs height is sft 9in and his weight lOst. He rode a No. 1 Itudge (52in), kindly lent for the occasion by Mr Woodward, C.B.C. In conneotion with the above, it might be mentioned that Mr W. Bean, C.B.C, champion cyclist of New Zealand, offered a gold medal for the rider who should beat Mr Duncan's record, and Mr J. Painter therefore takes the prize, which everyone will admit he has earned. ONE HUNDRED MILE RECORD BROKEN. Mr Bargrove, P.B.C, having established a. one hundred-mile record, Mr J. Painter intimated his intention of also endeavoui--ing to break it. He was so far successful that ho has reduced the time by nearly two hours, his time being Bhr 42uiin. There being some doubts bs to the proper distance, the time was taken at three different places — Two miles beyond Kaiapoi, Bhr -12min; Kaiapoi, Bhr 52min; White's bridge, 9hr 12min. The Christchurch Bicycle Club now hold both the Hurunui and 100 miles records, and an endeavour will be made shortly by this Club to win back the 50 miles and 24 hours records.