Cycling Notes.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXI, Issue 3574, 6 July 1903, Page 4

Cycling Notes.

An Australian soribe writes: — “ The New Zealand Teat Race for the Dunlop Road Race from Warrnambool to Melbourne, next August, wi l again be held over the TimaruCtristchurch course—a distance of 112 miles, on Saturday, July 25th, The New Zealand road rider, Andy Ralston, won the test race last year as he also did the previous year, and upon coming over as the New Zealand representative succeeded in establishing two fine rides over the Warmambool course that will be remembered by Victorian cyclists for many a year. Considerable interest will attach to this season’s representative as Ralston stated last August ibat he would not be able to come across again to ride—consequently Maorilaud will very likely be represented by new blood this year, unless A. Calder, the exVictorian crack road rider and winner of the first Warmambool race, carries off the test. The track twenty four hours’ world’s record has not been beaten since A. E. Walters covered 634 miles 774 yards in the two rounds of the clock, at Paris in 1900; One or two attempts have been made by long distance riders to eclipse Walters’ mileage, but without success, the twenty four hours’ record still standing to his credit. The oldtime racing man, Lesna, who raced in Australia a few years back, it is said, intends having a try for the record during the coming season. Whether he will succeed remains to be seen, but Lesna always seems to have more than his share of bad luck when on record jaunts. Three motor cycles, with 14 and 18 horse power,engines will be at his service should he decide to start. At a meeting of cyclists and others in Wellington recently it was decided to hold a benefit race meeting for R. Walne next September. Tickets for same—on the Art Union principle—will be on sale immediately, so that cyclists can at once show their appreciation of the great services this fine rider has rendered to cycle racing in Australia in past years. Walne is now out of tbe hospital, but it is yet doubtful when the Queensland champion will again be able to race.