CYCLE RECORD BROKEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 644, 22 April 1929, Page 1

CYCLE RECORD BROKEN

AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON HEAD WIND ALL THE WAY Press Association WELLINGTON, Sunday. A prominent member of the Port Nicholson Cycling Club, Stan. Wright, has succeeded in breaking the existing cycle record from Auckland to Wellington by over 9 hours 37 minutes. Wright left Auckland at 8 a.m. on Thursday, accompanied by a car driven by Mr. A. J. Coucliman, and containing his trainer, Mr. D. McFredries and Mr. H. D. London, a representative of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. The rider arrived at Awakino at 12.40 a.m. on Friday. Here a rest was made for 7 hours 20 minutes, and at 8 a.m. AVright left on his journey, to Wanganui, a distance of 158 miles. He arrived there at 9.26 p.m. after battling with a strong head wind for the best part of the day. A spell of over seven hours saw Wright leave Wanganui at 4.45 a.m. to cover the last part of his record journey. A stiff southerly wind was encountered for the entire distance, making the travelling very severe, but Wright rode into Wellington at a good 15 miles an hour; He reached the chief post office at 4.5 p.m. on Saturday. Wright said he had a battle against the wind for the entire distance, and ho found the conditions for the first two days very trying. Bad roads and hills, combined with the wind, made the travelling slow. Over the last part of the distance he rode strongly, and climbed the Paelcakariki Hill in 27 minutes, two minutes over his ordinary training time.