THE ROAD RACE.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17221, 3 October 1927, Page 8

THE ROAD RACE.

CYCLIST'S FEAT. UNDAUNTED BY AGE. " A LITTLE TIRED. A little tired, but in no sense distressed, a septuagenarian accomplished a remarkable feat on Saturday. He was Mr E. Breckon, of Nawton Road, Frankton, who despite his severe handicap of 70 yars, was a competitor in the cycling road race from Hamilton to Auckland. Day was just breaking as Mr Breckon was sent away on his long journey at 5 a.m. He arrived at Hun!*;- at 6.50, and had to look round to find an official to receive his check ticket, as he was far in advance of the other riders, who were not sent away from Hamilton until 9.20. Te Kauwhata, on the summit of the Rangiriri Hills, was reached at 8.10, and Papakura, the next check station, at 11.30. Age had not wearied him, and he stuck doggedly to his selfimposed task, arriving at the finishing post at Epsom at 1.33 p.m., his actual riding time for the journey of about 90 miles being Bhrs 33min.

Mr Breckon was fortunate in having a straight run, and completed his long ride without mishap. The fact that he had so substantially lowered his previous times for the distance was a great satisfaction to him, and he was awarded a special prize in recognition of his plucky effort. He arrived over an hour in advance of the other riders.

" I did a. little training for the race," said Mr Breckon, " but I could not overdo that sort of thing and had to be careful in my preliminary work." He added that he still ran occasionally, his best distance being 75yds. Mr Breckon has ridden a bicycle for many years. He recently rode from Frankton to Arapuni, a distance of 42 miles, in five hours.

" 11, was the first competitive cycle race I had ever started in," Mr Breckon said later, adding, with a smile, that he had hitherto been too young to think about such a task. When he heard the big event was being arranged, Mr Breckon .was keen to enter, and it was agreed to give him a sealed handicap, and to allow him to start at a time which, in his judgment, would enable him to finish with the field of much more youthful riders. On his entryform Mr Breckon stated his best time for the distance was 11J hours, but he had not on that occasion been racing, and he thought he might improve somewhat on that. Mr Breckon covered the journey in that time about nine years ago. lie also rode from Frankton to Auckland last May, when his time was 121 hours.