A Saturday in September

On Saturday September the 18th 1897, one week before the inaugural Beverley to Perth Road Race, an unnamed journalist with Perth’s Sunday Chronicle took a train trip to Beverley in WA’s nascent inner wheatbelt. He was accompanied by a riding companion, also unnamed, and a tandem bike. Their intention - to ride and inspect the course of Australia's newest and longest endurance cycle race.

To their surprise the race promoter, Percy Armstrong, and his companions, Hillman and ‘Scotchie’ Wright were also onboard;

“Together we made a very merry party. The time was passed listening to hairbreadth escapes from dingoes and pet lambs by the versatile P.W.A. Up with the lark on Sunday morning, after a hurried examination of machines, we went off on a wild scorch - Armstrong and Wright on a Rover tandem, Hillman on a single, and ourselves on an Acme tandem. The roads were grand and the pace warm.”

How many nicknames does a person need? Born in Kent to Scottish parents John Hendry Wright, aged 7, sailed to Melbourne with his family in 1883. Over time JHW became known as Harry or Scotchie, a nod to his heritage and accent.

Scotchie Wright was a committed and competitive rider from a young age. His 1894 100 mile record for Melbourne to Tallarook and return remains unchallenged to this day. After arriving in Perth in 1895 he joined the WA Cycling Club.

The inaugural Beverley to Perth, arranged by Percy Armstrong, of the Rover Cycling Agency, was contested by 14 riders, Scotchie among them. On race day a large crowd gathered in front of Armstrong's in Hay Street, eagerly devouring the contents of the telegrams which were frequently posted up announcing the performances of the riders as they passed through York, Northam, and Newcastle (now Toodyay).

The race was won by J.W. Beck, brother in law to the race promoter and manager of Armstrong’s Menzies store. Scotchie came a close fourth.

Scotchie never contestd the Beverley again. Six months later he set off for the east coast on his Rover bicycle. He became the third cyclist to cross the Nullarbor Plain, and the first to ride from Fremantle to Adelaide.

Photos courtesy Rob and Pat Wright

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Furious Riding

Norman Salomons was born in 1880 in New Jersey USA, the youngest of Herman and Rose Salomons’ four children. The family emigrated to Australia from London on the SS Orizaba, arriving in Albany in early 1891.

Later that same year 11 year old Norm showed early promise behind bars; he and Barber Nicholls were convicted of “furious riding”, an offence dastardly enough to attract a fine of 10 shillings (plus costs). Although unappreciated by the police, Norman’s talent for furious riding was put to good effect in the many cycle races he entered as a young man.

He competed in the Beverley to Perth Road Race a number of times, winning the 1903 edition off a 30 minute handicap. The Daily News gave this account of his arrival at the finish line on the road opposite the Windsor Hotel in South Perth:

“An avenue of cyclists was formed, and amid the cheers of the crowd Salomons - for it was he - rode past the winning post at 57min. 24 2/5sec past 2 p.m. The young cyclist was particularly fresh and sprang from his bicycle to receive the hand grips of the admiring spectators. Shoulder high he was hoisted, and carried to one of the hotel bedrooms for a rub down and some refreshments.”

The West Australian reported with somewhat less ebullience:

“Riding well and confidently, Salomons kept his advantage, and a few minutes before three o'clock he plugged up the hill leading to the Gardens, and amidst the cheers of the waiting crowd rode on to the winning post. The winner, who is a mere youth, and finished comparatively fresh, rode a Rover machine, 84” gear.”

Following this success Norm tackled the 267km Warrnambool to Melbourne Road Race. In 1903 it was won by New Zealander Jack Arnst in difficult conditions and Norm finished in 9 hours, 56 minutes and 3 seconds.

Norm worked at the Fremantle branch of the Armstrong Cycle and Motor Agency from 1906 until 1932 when he bought the shop and recast it as a sports depot. Over the years he also served as LWAW referee as well as secretary and ultimately president of the Fremantle Cycling Club. His passions were not confined to cycling - he was an active sailor and committee member of a number of yacht clubs. He was made a life member of Fremantle Sailing Club in 1930. Norman Frank Patrick Salomons died in 1972 aged 92.

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Brothers in Arms

During the late 1900’s and 1910’s brothers Alex and Mick Wann were amongst the strongest riders in WA. Members of the Bullsbrook Cycling Team they were sponsored by Davies Franklin Cycles and rode their best racing machine - the 'Model 9'. They had success in races from the metro area to Mt Magnet and Kalgoorlie.

The brothers were close. As teenagers, following their mother's death, they left their Armadale home and lived rough in the bush at Bibra Lake. They survived by shooting wild pigs, ducks and rabbits and were known to visit the Fremantle wharf where they would filch fresh bananas and other fruit.

By their early 20's the Wanns were powerful men working for the Midland Railway Co. as sleeper cutters in Bullsbrook. Alex and Mick thought nothing of riding 50km down to Perth on a Saturday afternoon, riding an 80km race, before pedalling home again.

1912 Beverley to Perth Race 'Easy Victory for Alex Wann'

Over 6000 people gathered at the Stirling Street finish line and Alex was carried shoulder high by admirers into the Shaftesbury Hotel. Alex started from scratch and passed the other 61 riders to claim victory.

1913 “The Wann Brothers Finish First and Second. Mick wins outright and Alex Fastest Time”. The Sunday Times interviewed Alex at the finish line: “I knew before I started I had no hope of catching my brother” said Alex Wann, winner of the second prize and fastest time. “The only thing left for me was to try for fastest time. That’s all the scratch man has got to hope for. The worst portion was easily those last three laps on the oval. I felt them more than the longest hill. Yes, I’ve had enough”.

Alex continued to ride and he won almost all the races he entered, including the 1915 Northam to Perth Road Race.

In 1916 Alex and Mick signed up for the Great War, along with many other cyclists, 1908 Beverley winner Claude Peglar among them. After basic training in Perth, they embarked for the UK to finish training in Durrington prior to being despatched to France to fight the Germans. In 1918, less than two years after leaving Perth, both brothers were killed in France, six weeks apart. Aged 35 Alex was shot by a German sniper as his battalion headed for the Hindenberg Line. He is honoured at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. Mick died of wounds aged 30 and is buried at Daours Communal Cemetery in France.

Photos of Alex Wann courtesy the Wann Family

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Youth's Triumphant Progress

“Youth continued its triumphant progress” when 18 year old Alfred Edward Golder rode his West Cycle into first place in the 1925 Northam-to-Perth bike race, W.A.’s premier event for amateur riders.

“A good field of 32 riders competed and faced from the outset a head wind. Golder, the ultimate winner, made good progress from the start, and finally took the lead alone between Lloyd's Crossing and Bailup. He rode about 50 miles on his own, and, in winning by over six minutes, certainly put up a great ride.” The West Australian 28 Sep 1925.

The Northam to Perth was second only to the Beverley to Perth in prestige for Western Australian cyclists. Riders in the Beverley-to-Perth were professionals and raced for prizes and money. The Northam to Perth was for amateurs who dreamed of representing Western Australia nationally, or at the Olympics internationally.

Starting from Northam, riders weaved westward through the hills. Lloyds Crossing near Toodyay, Bailup, Woorooloo, Red Hill and Midland Junction before racing home to the Peninsula Hotel in Maylands. In all, they completed the 75 miles (120 kilometres) mainly on notorious pea gravel roads – many riders would come to grief over the years - in a time of 3hr 53mins 10secs averaging almost 31kph. Riding from scratch, W.Lucas set fastest time in only 4 mins less.

Golder's bike was built by West Cycle Limited, located in Hay St, Perth, and may date to as early as 1920. West Cycles were a significant builder and supplier of bikes. A.Kaiser, a West sponsored rider, held the time record in the Beverley-to-Perth from 1911 to 1925.

Golder’s bike exemplifies the search for weight savings by numerous builders around Australia in this period. Contrasting with earlier, sturdier racing bikes, the frame features a smaller diameter 7/8” top-tube, pencil-thin seat stays and chain stays using narrower, lighter fork tubing. It retained the 'gallows' seat post and 'snail cam' rear axle adjusters that disappeared by the 1930’s. The rear triangle carries shards of nickel plating. (Chrome plating, which supplanted nickel, was invented in 1924).

Components used were some of the best available at the time including Chater-Lea cranks, Brooks saddle and BSA hubs, headset and pedals. In common with many riders from this period Golder campaigned this bike across multiple disciplines. Three different sized wooden wheelsets were employed for track and road races - two 'singles' style and clinchers shod with Australian made Olympic Spartans. The bike also came with a longer track focussed adjustable diamond stem and track drop-bar. It was raced as a fixed-wheel, with freewheels and 'variable gear devices' only allowed from and after the 1934 Northam to Perth.

Race pictures and newspaper articles from The Western Mail 1st October 1925. Pictured is Golder crossing the line and a post-race picture of the place getters 1st (Golder, left) and presumably 2nd, 3rd and W. Lucas (right) from scratch in 3.49.10 wearing his Fastest Time sash.

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Gearing Up

Not since the development of the safety bicycle (1860's) and the roller chain (1880's) had cycle technology made such advances as were evident through this period, with the development and adoption of freewheel hubs and derailleur gears.

In the West Australian in July 1933, 'Little Gidgie' identified that "although freewheels were first permitted in the 1925 Beverley to Perth", they remained prohibited in amateur road cycling in Western Australia until 1933. "At its last meeting the League of West Australian Wheelmen officially approved of the use of variable gears in professional road races in this State. As a fact, a variable gear, somewhat similar to the device which has recently caused such controversy in Victoria, was used in the 1928 Beverley to Perth, and variable gears have been used subsequently in this State's biggest road race."

Little Gidgie's article argued that "Races through the Darling Ranges offer an ideal testing ground for variable gear devices, which consist of three chain cogs of varying sizes mounted side by side on the back hub. By moving a lever the rider causes the chain to jump from one to the other of the cogs".

Despite the need to ease pedal pressure to change gear during a hard race, the advantage of gears was undeniable. In 1931 Hubert Opperman, in correspondence for the Cyclo Gear Company, witnessed the advantage of variable gearing for amateur Tour de France cyclists while "Ace" riders like himself were denied derailleurs.

In the depression, despite these advances, single speed cyclists retained many successes in the Beverley and single speeds machines continued to feature in the event into the 1950's.

Beverley to Perth 1933 - Winner Ray Pengelly

As reported in the West Australian on Sep. 18th the 1933 race was tightly contested: "Years of persistent effort in long-distance events were rewarded on Saturday, when the 23-year-old Bassendean rider, R. Pengelly, won the 29th Beverley to Perth race. "

Rain overnight had made the roads very heavy. Light showers during the race and head wind over the concluding stages added further discomfort for competitors. Pengelly rode with a fixed wheel of 73 gear inches. He and Winston advanced through the slower riders along the undulating Avon River flats and were leading by the time they reached Toodyay. After climbing over Devil's Elbow, Wooroloo Hill, Big Gidgie Hill and Little Gidgie Hill they passed through Midland Junction at 3:20 p.m. Pengelly and Winston survived to finish just two minutes ahead of a pursuing group and Pengelly was congratulated at the finish line by Hubert Opperman.

Photo of Ray Pengelly finishing outside the Peninsula Hotel in 1933 courtesy SLWA

Cyclo gears were simple and durable. They were popular in Australia in 1930’ and ‘40’s

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Records Tumble

The Race

Joe Barron probably whispered a prayer as he reached down and touched the St Christopher’s badge clamped on the Manxman’s downtube. Joe was being flagged away as one of four 38 minute men in the 1954 Beverley to Perth Road Race. Joe’s fourth attempt at the Beverley was in a field of 44 riders featuring the cream of Western Australia’s professional cyclists, some with interstate and international experience. While the weather was favourable, some stretches of poor roads would play a big part in the race. At Red Hill Joe had established a 5 minute advantage and managed to hold off all-comers and win with a time of 4 hours 53 minutes 5 seconds – the first ever rider to finish the Beverley in under 5 hours. Behind Joe, scratch man Jim Oliver staged one of the most memorable rides in West Australian and Australian cycling history finishing third in the record time of 4hr 19min 30secs. Oliver covered the first 100 miles (160 km) in the sensational time of 3 hrs 55min 9secs. (Jim Oliver won in 1956)

The Man

Joe Barron was born in York in 1931 and became a successful local cyclist. Moving to Perth in 1949 he joined his cousin Eddie Barron as a member of the Midland and Bassendean Cycling Club. Joe participated in track and road events from club to State level, and his family have particular memories of cheering him on especially in the Wescobee sponsored Tour Events. Becoming a career fireman in 1952, Joe juggled work shifts, cycle training and participation and still found time to mentor junior and sub-junior riders. He also helped out at Eddie Barron’s Flash Cycles shop and with ‘gentleman’ Aub Bicker at Manxman Cycles. Joe retired from the Fire Service in 1994 and spoiled many a good walk as a stalwart of the Pickering Brook Golf Club, being at times treasurer and club Captain.

The Bike

The Manxman Special was retailed by Manxman Cycles, 140 Broadway, Nedlands. Manxman Cycles was started in the late 1940’s by ex-serviceman Reg Slade selling both motorcycles and bicycles. In 1954 Reg sold the business to fellow motorcycle enthusiast Aub Bicker who commenced Manxman’s sponsorship of Joe Barron. Anecdotally it is known that Manxman cycles manufacture was out-sourced to Aussie Cycles of Hay Street Perth as late as 1964.

And the name? Alas, there is no romantic link to the Isle of Man merely Reg Slade and wife Beryl sitting around the kitchen table casting around for a business name and spying daughter Val’s Manx cat. So was born Manxman Cycles.

Photo below from Joe’s album courtesy of Mary Downes, Mark and Paul Barron

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The Ride of His Life

At 13 Cyril Sumner began work as a tinsmith. Every day, he rode his bike to and from his home in Midland to work in Roe St, Perth. He started riding competitively when he joined the Midland Cycle Club, then the newly formed Belmont Wheelers. By 1941 he was riding for the Victoria Park Cycling Club (VPCC).

Cyril celebrated his first major success at 16 winning the VPCC 20 Mile Handicap Cyril Norton Cup. This was followed in the same year with a win in the 23 Mile Junior Cycle Race.

In September 1941, now 19, Cyril lined up with 40 other riders in the gruelling, gravelly 116 mile "Beverley". This tough handicapped race attracted some of the best cyclists from around W.A., and often featured interstate riders too.

“Handsome cups, sashes and badges” would be presented. 1st prize was a “special racing machine”; a Rainbow Challenge Racer donated by Sandovers. The rider making fastest time would receive cash towards representing W.A. in races held in the Eastern States.

Though one of the youngest riders the quiet and unassuming 19 year old Cyril was in good form. Riding his lightweight Ascot he would have felt in with a chance given the head start he had on the limit bunch. He could not have imagined the grit and experience of the state’s best race hardened warriors, or the hills, wind and rain that lay ahead that day.

Flagged off 27 minutes ahead of the defending champion - the legendary Bill “Tito” Bonser from Kalgoorlie on scratch – Cyril would have chased off after the cloud of riders that had departed before him, soon rubbing dirt & mud from his eyes and spitting grit to the ground, driven on by youthful exuberance, stamina and a good measure of pluck and luck on the slippery pea-gravel roads before him.

Bonser, though once again setting fastest time for the race, didn’t catch Cyril that day. Despite the vast gap in experience over distance and terrain, Bonser only made up 10 seconds per mile on Sumner. Pushing his 5A Ascot down the hills and across the line at the Peninsula Hotel in Maylands, mud stained Cyril finished 8th overall in a time of 6hrs 12mins. For his sterling effort, Cyril won a pair of high pressure tyres valued at £1/8/6.

With the world at war and his first child not long away, no further trophies were added to Cyril’s collection. Cyril kept the Ascot though, and the new Swansea racing frame #6864 he took as a prize that day.

In 1982, aged 60, Cyril suffered a heart attack and underwent surgery. As part of his rehabilitation, his son Robert had the tired 5A Ascot and equally neglected, unbuilt Swansea frame repainted. The plan was, after 41 years, to finally build up the Swansea and fix up the Ascot as a father and son project for the occasional ride together.

photo of Cyril Sumner in 1938 courtesy of daughter Barbara Moss

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Country Roads

Arthur Phillip Riddle, to his great regret, was born 1926 at Victoria Park; he never counted himself as a 'city slicker', always as a man from the bush. His parents moved to Cue when he was a baby. As a youth he would do the 22km return ride from Cue to Day Dawn on his bicycle on the weekend to visit his grandparents.

The Riddles moved to the Eastern Goldfields in 1939 and Arthur’s dad, Arthur C, started up a shearing team. Arthur spent a year at Kalgoorlie High School before leaving to work as a shearer on his father's team.

Arthur's first recorded ride, aged 14, was a fastest time in a ‘juvenile’ race run by the Eastern Goldfields Club in 1940. Cycling, like shearing, was a blend of teamwork and individual effort; it was a life that Arthur loved.

On 23rd July, 1947 he entered into an agreement to hire a ‘special chrome plated Swansea racer’ at the rate of £1.2.7. per month for twelve months with an option to buy.

The summer season was track racing on a specially built velodrome and in the winter it was road racing. Arthur preferred the latter; despite this, he was quite successful on the track at the Kalgoorlie Oval. One Friday evening the 'riders were hampered by a cold southerly wind...' Arthur Riddle won the One Mile race and came second in the One and a Half Mile. Another successful night was winning the Seniors Lap Dash; Two Laps; and the Three Laps.

Arthur took part in the cycling events organised by the E.G.C.C. which featured at the Community Fair held annually at Kalgoorlie’s Cruickshank Oval. State reps Terry Smith and Ray Furfaro participated, a journalist noting that the local competition including Arthur Riddle were not over-awed by them and displayed good form; he came second in the One Lap race.

Cycle racing was also run at the Boulder speedway on Saturday nights. The races were of various distances from 65 yards, 220 yards both handicapped, and a Scratch race of 5 laps. Arthur kept a clip of a win for him in the second race.

Arthur won a 10 mile road race run by the E.G.C.C. 7th June, 1959. This is surprising considering that P. Kilderry collided with his wheel and fell. Kilderry was not badly hurt and was expected to be fit for the next meet. Arthur participated in the A grade 40-mile “Fallen Cyclist” on the 30th June, with a minute handicap. In August of 1962, a week before his 36th birthday, Arthur came third in a 35 mile handicap race run by E.G.C.C. It was his first race for the season. First place was L. Johnson, second was Brian Paxman. Arthur came second in a 25 mile handicap race with a finish of 16 min, beaten by G. Bywater. The first road race for the E.G.C.C. in 1966 season was 15-mile; The last two riders listed were B.Pearce and Arthur Riddle on a handicap of 3.30 min. In a Sunday E.G.C.C. club race of 25 miles Arthur 'hung on to be a mode rate third.'

In August 1959Arthur travelled to Perth to try his luck in one of the metropolitan races. He finished sixth in the arduous 108 mile Beverley to Perth Road Race. The Daily News published two photographs alongside an article headlined 'Veterans Join The Field In Comfort'. It referred to three former competitors attending the Jubilee event. “Scotchie” Wright, the eldest at 84, who rode in the inaugural event in 1897, Norman Salamons (77) who took part in the race seven times, and Eddie Gray (71) who made four starts. At Beverley the three veterans were given the honour of pushing out the first riders.

The E.G.C.C. sent him a telegram of congratulations for his performance (5. hr 49min.46 sec.) The winner was J.Pianto (5hr.25min.25sec) Arthur rode on a handicap of 28 min in this race in 1960; his 1965 attempt with a handicap of 30 minutes, unplaced.

In 1960, Arthur wrote to Jack Fitzgerald, Middle Park, Melbourne and paid five pounds for correspondence coaching lessons for road racing tactics He wanted to have an edge and to stave off the years. He followed the instructions assiduously and any other knowledge he could acquire. He could not be called a health freak but he read up on healthy diets for sportsmen, watched his weight and supplemented his diet with such things as cod liver oil and orange juice (taken together) every morning. A next door neighbour, Mr Flannigan, gave massages to bike riders and this too was convenient for Arthur to soothe away the aches and pains.

In the same year Arthur placed third in The Midland Trader's 100. He was unplaced in the 65 mile Collie to Donnybrook and return. He also rode in the Belmont Wheelers senior 41-mile handicap race and in the Alf Charlson Midland Railway Road Race (50 miles).

One of the articles in The Swan Express Wed., June 8, 1960 refers to the Malcolm Jackson Memorial held by the Midland-Bassendean Club. Dan Heatley (Dan Bentley cited in The West Australiann.) of Collie won the race from the 2mins 30seconds mark; fastest time was Ron Host from scratch. Arthur featured in this article and photograph as one of the second bunch headed by Alan.

Bishop which at the end of the first lap were just 45 seconds behind the leader with Ben Clare, Arthur Riddle, Graeme Bonser and Reg Steele in that order. At two laps Carione and Cucvocia were in front but by 'a bare 30 seconds from Alan Bishop, Ben Clare, Arthur Riddle and Graeme Bonser. Ten riders were vying for the winners title. Unfortunately Arthur was not one of them.

On Wednesday 6th July,1960, the Swan Express announced a new circuit was used for the Douglas Jones Race. It started at Douglas Jones in James St., Guildford and travelled down Great Eastern Highway to Kalamunda-rd. in South Guildford then turned onto Stirling rd., in South Guildford , turned left through Hazelmere, over the Woodbridge and up James st., to the finish a distance of 7.5 miles. Arthur Riddle featured in this article with Alan Bishop for 'keeping the leading bunch out of trouble'; Graeme Bilton (1st), Kevin Lehman (2nd).

The following week the above paper reported the club held a race from Midland Junction to Mundijong. Alan Bishop, Arthur Riddle, Peter Broun, Reg Steele were diminishing Ray Deering's lead from his seven minute start to 2.5 minutes when they crossed Welshpool road.Throughout the race the front markers Alan Bishop, Arthur Riddle, Peter Broun, Reg Steele and Ron Watkins were all going well and were holding off the 'backies'. At the home turn Peter Broun led out from 'the

consistent veterans Arthur Riddle, Alan Bishop and Ron Watkins. Peter Broun's winning time was 1 hr.28mins,45sec., Arthur's time was .2 seconds later and Alan Bishop's was .4 seconds from the winner so it was an exciting treat for the fans.

In 1961 an article in the Kalgoorlie Miner titled 'Veteran Riddle To Try Again' summarised his cycling days:

One of the veterans of the Norseman-Kalgoorlie field is the ex-goldfielder, Arthur Riddle, who will be making his third attempt at winning the rich event. Riddle was a successful cyclist in Kalgoorlie for many years before he went to Midland Junction last year.

He is still riding with success and was third in the recent Midland 100. In last year's Norseman race he was in a winning position when he suffered cramps in the cold weather and was forced to withdraw. Riddle rode his bicycle to Kalgoorlie from Perth last week, accompanying the local junior Kevin Pallett. With a start of 35 minutes in this year's event he could earn the main award.

It took three days for Kevin and Arthur to ride the distance to Kalgoorlie. They stayed overnight at Kellerberrin on the first day, the second day they stayed overnight at Southern Cross with Arthur's brother-in-law Roy Watts, they arrived at their destination the following day. Arthur and Kevin were great mates. Kevin rode while a junior when Arthur was already in his thirties with much more experience. It is likely that he imparted some of the knowledge he gained over the years to Kevin and acted as a mentor. They trained together and on one of these rides they started out on a bright sunny day. Black cockatoos flew over and Arthur warned Kevin it was going to rain. Shortly after they were soaked from a heavy downpour. Kevin asked Arthur how he knew; as a 'bushie' Arthur had heard and taken notice of the louder squawking of the cockatoos. Kevin Pallet won the Midland Traders 100 miles cycling race in 1970.

In the 1960’s the Midland Trader's 100 was the richest cycling race in the state. Arthur rode this race several times and ran second in 1965, days after his 39th birthday. Second prize was a Flash track bike but as it was in a size that didn’t suit him it was kept wrapped in plastic and stored on top of his wardrobe.

Arthur also trained with Eddie Atkins who was also a veteran rider. Tragically Arthur's friend was killed in a crash while out training; Eddie's destiny was to be one of the Fallen Riders.

In 1966 Arthur, aged 40, came third. The winner was 26 year old Les Suckling and second place went to 20 year old Bruno Cuccovia.

In 1966 the Perth Amateur Cycling Club organised an 85 mile Midland – Chittering which finished with a dead heat between Stephen Perkins and Bruce Williams. On the same day J.Ward won the 33mile cycling race around an 8 ¾ mile circuit at Midland Junction which was organised by the M.B.C.C. Ward's front wheel gave him trouble as his turned into the last lap; he promptly dealt with it and finished the race. J Ward 1st place, A.Riddle 2nd and A. Bishop 3rd.

The amateur/ turned professional cyclist Trevor Seaborn had a narrow victory over State champion Mal Barker and former leading Italian rider, Sylvano Lunardi for fastest time and set a record of 1 hr. 36min. 25 sec. in the 42-mile Harry Cooper Memorial race at Midland. The winner was Bob Busselletto, 2nd Graham Bywater 2nd and Arthur Riddle 3rd. He rode it on another occasion and was beaten by K.Taylor 1st and R.Steele 2nd to again place 3rd.

Arthur had a thirty minute handicap and came 5th behind W. McWhirter, L.Enwright, J.Baker, and Alan Bishop in the Alf Charlson Midland Railway Hotel Senior Road Race.

1966 was a transition period for Arthur and family because he travelled to and from the Goldfields. He rode one night of the E.G.C.C. track season 21st January, 1966. He returned to Perth until Easter when he was called back to manage the family pastoral lease of Goongarrie. When the 1966 E.G.C.C. road season began Arthur participated. Kevin Pallet won the annual thirty two mile Traders Road Race from 6.45 mins. Arthur had a handicap of 5:30 mins. and came in fifth. He was more successful in a twenty five mile race. Paul Smeets won; his father Ernie Smeets 2nd ; Arthur came 3rd. He had been in the leader's bunch until they were overtaken by the Smeets duo.

An article by “Sprocket” in the Kalgoorlie Miner featured K. Pallet who won the first race of his cycling career. The 'veteran rider A.Riddle went well also as he took second placing...His son J.Riddle, a juvenile 'had a convincing win in his event.'

Throughout the years of road racing Arthur rode his black Swansea bicycle Registration No 34290. It was decorated in gold lettering with Swansea; Arthur Riddle and E.G.C.C. It is assumed that this bicycle was custom made. He used it for the ride to Kalgoorlie and whenever he was training.

At one stage Arthur Riddle headed the list with forty one points for the consistency trophies. Consistency summed him up. He had the stamina over miles but was often let down by his sprinting if he had not already been burnt off or his strategies and timing failed against the younger and more talented riders. Arthur rode with champions and on occasion managed to win a place. Internationally this era of cycling had an abundance of highly talented Australian riders, including Russell Mockridge, Peter Panton, Steele Bishop, Sid Patterson, Neville Veale, Barry Wadell, several of whom raced overseas in prestigous events including the Tour de France and the Olympic Games. Arthur had great respect for them and felt privileged to meet and race against some of them. He was an avid fan and followed their careers and of those who came after.

Sources: The Kalgoorlie Miner; The Swan Express, The West Australian; correspondence from Jack Fitzgerald; documents (programmes etc) printed for members from the E.G.C.C.; M.B.C.C. and League of W..A. Wheelman and the memoirs of Kevin Pallett.

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Victorious Victorian

"I wasn't a prolific winner, I just enjoyed racing..."

David Wohlers started racing in the Wangarrata, Victoria Schoolboys’ District Championships as a boy, at the time of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. After an apprenticeship he moved to Melbourne to work, and rode with the Brunswick Cycle Club.

In 1971, recently married, David drove to Perth with his wife Shirley and Melbourne cycling buddy Robert Matthews. They came to Perth at the invitation of Tommy Norris whose plan was to stiffen the competition among the local riders. David joined the Belmont Wheelers cycle club and the three visitors lived and worked in Perth for the next six months, training to and from Kwinana on weeknights in the headlights of Tom Norris's car.

Wohlers and Matthews settled into the routine of weekend club racing including open events hosted fortnightly by the League of WA Wheelmen. Riding his George McDonald built Hillman, he came to the attention of handicappers, winning the Balcatta Sprint on a criterium circuit. In Beverley, a week later, Dave together with Matthews, Steve Pember (Midland) and Mark Keyser (Belmont) were at the start line together, riding 28 minutes off scratch.

Working together, they hoped for a good outcome. Dave recalled riding through the hills "...we'd caught the leaders and gone past everybody". The riding continued hard to the finish, "I wasn't the best sprinter I didn't think, ...but I ended up being the best one on the day."

Returning to Melbourne and later owning bike shops in Wangaratta, David's cycling continued, competing in two Sun Herald Tours and six Melbourne to Warnambool Classics along the way. In 1980 he flew back to WA for another tilt at the Beverley, becoming the only interstate rider to win the local classic twice.

He continued racing in Masters Games including cyclocross in his 70's, and returned to Perth in 2019 to ride the Beverley once again. He and Shirley still live in Wangaratta, proud parents and grandparents.

"I wouldn't have been able to do it without Shirley, ...it would have been slap-dash for me".

L-R Robert Matthews, sponsor Michael Poyner and David Wohlers. Photo donated by David Wohlers.

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The 1980's

Bob Currie - 1982 Winner

Bob's dad was the caretaker for the Northam Army Camp and he lived in Northam for most of his life. He grew up watching the Beverley to Perth going through town and started riding competitively aged 9. As a member of the Northam Club he regularly did the Northam-York-Northam runs. Amongst others he rode with Australian champion Peter Panton. Moving to Perth he joined the Midland-Bassendean Club and rode the Northam to Perth regularly.

For the 1982 Beverley Bob rode an Impala that he built himself. Race rules dictated that competitors rode with two water bottles and were only allowed to take extra food and water in designated areas. His daughter supported him in the '82 event to make sure he had water and food around York area.

Bob went on to start Ideal Cycles on South St O'Connor.

Murray Hall - 1985 Winner

"I recall the weather being mild and a large field had entered. Being a handicap event, the bunches were around 10 riders strong, spread out over 40 minutes to the limit riders.

The scratch bunch was very strong; all of the riders were national level A grade, a credit to the standard of professional cycling in WA in that era.

The scratch group had an unwritten agreement to work together to ensure that we caught out markers and to give us the opportunity to enter Beverley with the lead group. Most of the race was uneventful, average speed was high, and we caught the leaders around 10km from the finish. I worked my way to the front and noted a couple of riders had a 200m lead. I took the challenge to ride out to them. By the time I caught them one faulted and was dropping back, the other was going well, and I swapped a couple of turns with him.

I realised my fellow scratch riders wouldn't see the humour in me dragging another rider to the finish after all the effort they’d put in, so I attacked the leader and rode solo to the finish. I entered town 30 seconds in front of the group and rode up the main street to take out “The Beverley” and the WA Road Championship, run in conjunction with the event in '85."

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Heroic Revival

Fifteen years after the last ‘Beverley’ had been ridden, won and the trophies dished out, three curious souls; Phil, Rob and Toby set out to cover the course of the legendary race. Curiosity begat enthusiasm and on a drizzly day in October 2014 the ‘Beverley Heroic’ took to the gravel roads of the inner wheatbelt. 74 adventurers took part in this non competitive event riding a tough 90km course to York and back.

The RSL Ladies auxiliary put on a spread at the town hall and prizes celebrating spirit over speed were awarded. Jamie King won the first ‘Most Heroic Rider’ after pushing a fellow rider 5 km and helping with 2 punctures. Susan Challen was ‘The Heroine’ after her husband took off without her on the first climb. The format was a success.

Born in 2009 South Perth Cycle Club (SPCC) quickly became the largest club in Western Australia. It promotes a friendly club atmosphere and a small racing crew. From 2014 to 2020 SPCC supported the Beverley Heroic participation ride.

In 2016 SPCC added ‘The Beverley’ road race to the calendar. The 114km handicapped race was run out and back from Beverley, avoiding busier roads that had put paid to the original Beverley. The 2016 race was won by Beijing Olympic representative Cameron Meyer with Michael Freiberg in 2nd place.

Growing to 500 visitors the Heroic became a full weekend of bike riding with cyclocross, camping, a movie night and town ride. Like so many classic races before it, the weekend fell victim to traffic management costs. Eschewing formality a number of riders continue to commemorate the race, riding from Beverley each October.

The legacy of the Beverley to Perth Road Race continues to be remembered, celebrated, and most importantly, ridden. It has inspired West Australian riders since the invention of the ‘safety’ bicycle, grown local champions and made international stars. Let’s ride!

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Third Time's a Charm

Jim Krynen could outsprint the bunch back in the 80s and 90s. He won 62 state championships and 6 national titles in the master’s division. In the course of a 30 year career he finished twice in the national professionals.

Born in the Midland, Jim grew up behind Flash Cycles. One of his earliest memories is of Carmine Prieato pinstriping his scooter in the Flash workshop in Midland. His dad Lex rode with Midland Bassendean Cycle Club, competing in races that have long disappeared from the calendar - the Norseman to Kalgoorlie, Midland Traders 100 and the Douglas Jones.

Jim’s return to the Netherlands in 1969 was the first of many international trips. Back ‘home’ his first racing bike was a ‘72 Gazelle and, aged 16, he rode it in the local Kermesse in Grave, challenging a club near Nijimegen, up near the German border. It was a win for Jim!

“I fell off three times, but I ended up winning it and it was such a euphoric feeling you know, and it really spurred me on, so next week I became a member of the club.”

For the next decade, splitting his time between Holland and WA, Jim rode and won state titles and was nominated for State Sports Star. Strong sprinting won him the “all-round track champion” for 5 years. He rubbed shoulders with greats like Peter Panton, Neville Veale and Mal Barker.

“Western Australia at the nationals; we’d be lucky to come back with a bronze medal - that would be sensational. We were the good dudes riding with the black duck on our back. I still got some of those shirts and that's funny because after you take your shirt off you would have a big red duck on your back.”

A whole new world opened when he turned professional in 1984. Jim rode European classics as well as Australian events. In Holland his family hosted Australian riders like Phil Anderson, Gary Sutton, Kevin Nichols. Jim toured and raced with Anderson, the first Australian to wear a yellow jersey in the Tour de France. It was here that Jim honed his race craft and earned a reputation as a ‘tough Aussie’.

Winning the 1986 Beverley on a Tommasini sporting gold-plated components earned him the nickname ‘Jim Mickleburg’. The plating peeled off and ruined the groupset but a comeback saw Jim win the Beverley again in ‘93 and ’96.

Through his work with BikeWest and the Public Transport Authority Jim has been involved in the development of Perth’s cycling infrastructure for over 20 years.

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The Bikes

c. 1904

Unknown provenance but possibly an Armstrong made in Perth, Western Australia or Birmingham, UK.

Frame number 9265

Single speed with Westwood rims, New Eadie coaster brake rear hub, Armstrong chainset and Lyotard pedals. Nickel plated stem and bars with John Bull handgrips. Ideale saddle.

This bike was built as a ‘path racer’, the ancestor of the modern racing bike. Path racers were a hybrid design that allowed racing on both tracks and roads, many of which were unpaved.

While preservation os preferred to restoration, the original condition of this bike was poor enough to warrant some restoration of the metal finishes and replacement of the original tyres.

Loaned by Tim Eastwood

1920’s BSA

The Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) was a large British industrial company with many divisions. It brought its precision engineering experience to the production and supply of high-quality bicycle components to bike builders around the world.

1908-09 BSA catalogues contain the frame hardware used in the construction of this dedicated track and road racing bike. Bikes built in Australia are generally considered to be 12-24 months younger than the components used in them due to the time spent in transit and storage.

Notable features on this BSA-based bike, much the same as Kaiser’s Beverley-to-Perth bike pictured, include short-wheel base chain-bridge, narrow bottom-bracket shell – for faster pedaling through corners - and lugs resulting in a “lower-than-shearers-bike” bottom-bracket and sloping top-tube. Wheel size was typically 28”. The chain and seat stays are a heavier D-shape and the down-tube and seat-tube were 1 1/8” diameter with a 1” top tube.

In the early 1920’s the next generation of lightweight bikes appeared as represented by the circa 1924 Northam-to-Perth winning “The West” cycle in this exhibition. By comparison, it features 1” tubing with 7/8” top tube, pencil thin seat-stays and rear chain stays made of lightweight narrow fork blade tubing.

By 1930, most builders settled on standardized 1” tubing throughout the main triangle with brazed on seat-stays. Rear dropouts were lighter with BSA snail-cam chain tighteners all but obsolete. Rounder fork blades were used exclusively and wheel size choice came down to either 700c or - until all but gone in the 1970’s - 27” wheels. Little new or dramatically different or lasting consequence in steel bike design would ever be seen again.

Loaned by Frank West

c. 1935

Frame number 155. This bike was possibly built by West Cycles, however the loss of paint makes it impossible to confirm.

Prior to 1934 many Perth bike builders used pressed metal badges on their bikes’ head tubes. New processes in the mid ‘30’s saw manufacturers quickly adopt decals in preference to badges. There is no evidence of a headbadge on this bike, it’s likely that it dates from the second half of the decade.

The bike is unusual in that it sports a rear derailleur - a Cyclo three speed that was popular on the Continent (Europe) but rare in the backwaters of Perth. The immediate past owner of the bike was ex Nedlands Mayor Colin Barnes.

Loaned by Rory

1953 Manxman Special Manxman Cycles, 140 Broadway, Nedlands

Joe Barron rode this Manxman bicycle to his 1954 Beverley to Perth win.

Hand painted scroll work and water slide transfers. 27” wheels, 22 “ TT x 22 “ ST, Frame No. 35294. Magistroni crankset, Simplex Raidexport 32 rear derailleur (c. 1961) Simplex Juy 56 front derailleur (c.1956), unknown alloy rims sport Dunlop Special Lightweight tyres.

c. 1982 Impala

Bob Currie, original owner of Ideal Cycles in O’Connor, built bikes under the Impala name. He won the 1982 Perth to Beverley on this bike.

The Impala, remarkable for its light weight, is typical of a new breed of race bikes. It was originally fitted exclusively with Shimano’s top of the line Dura Ace groupset. Over time Bob gave parts away to younger riders. The front derailleur lever (left side of the down tube) has at some point been replaced with an older Campagnolo lever, reason unknown.

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Graeme Cocks' talk on Percy Armstrong's life

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Exhibition Weekend

Exhibition weekend for the Beverley to Perth Road Race - 120 years was Sept 18th and 19th 2021. It was staged at a community access space in the old Peninsula Hotel, now Dome Café. A fitting venue since the race finished there for more than three decades from the late 1920’s on.

On Saturday motoring historian Graeme Cocks gave a fascinating presentation on Percy Armstrong, the founder of the ‘Beverley’. On Sunday Toby Hodgson interviewed two 1990’s race winners Paul O’Neill and Jim Krynen. Paul and Jim had very different journeys to Beverley, and in the years since their wins. Following the interview the club hosted a rider catchup - it was great to see so many people who’d ridden the race as far back as the 1950’s having a yarn over a cuppa.

Group portrait of the Beverley reunion riders (photo by Bruce Hunt)

Bernie Foy dropped by. Bernie’s Dad Jack owned Speedlite Cycles, here he is checking out a Speedlite built for Laurie Cox in the mid 1950’s.

Above and below - Beverley to Perth exhibition overviews

Alan Greaves brought in his Dad’s Beverley medallions.

L-R Terry Lyons, Des Williams and John McGrath

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Bill Taylor's Beverley

Memories of My Cycling Days

(From a hand-written memoir)

1936 Beverley-to-Perth, 5th Place

I decided I would ride in the Beverly to Perth bike race . I was trapping rabbits for a living so did very little training. My dad tried talk to me out of it as he said I wasn't fit enough. A fortnight before the race I stopped trapping so I could do some training. I was 20 years old and fairly fit.

On the Tuesday before the race I decided to ride from Pingelly to Perth to see how I would go.

Between Beverley and York I met a group of riders so I joined them. In that group was Ron Logue who won the year before and the father of a lass that wrote to me recently. Also John Riley who finished second the year before.

We rode to Perth on Tuesday and back to Beverley on Thursday. I rode on to Pingelly, then back to Beverley on Friday, rode the race on Saturday, and back to Pingelly on Monday. Did about 800 kilometres that week.

I had a room in the hotel at Beverley on the Friday night and shared with the chap from Kalgoorlie. He was George Hebbard, which didn't mean much to me until next day. He rode off scratch and punctured in the race, mended the puncture and still got fastest time which gave him title of W.A. Road Champion.

When I finished fifth out of 108 riders , my dad was so pleased. When I got home he was so excited… couldn't stop shaking my hand. And my dad never got very excited about anything.

My first racing bike cost $3, my last one cost $800. Happy days.

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Des Williams Beverley Recollections

I’m originally from South Australia and when I was in my early 20’s I visited W.A. I joined the Fremantle cycling club and got picked up as a factory rider for Swansea of Fremantle.

I was 22 when I rode my first Beverley to Perth in 1953. I managed to finish 3rd. My time was about 11 minutes behind the fastest time which was set by Les Suckling.

I don’t remember too much about the race… it was nearly 70 years ago!... though I do remember the finish. There were three of us, and like the old joke, there was a Dutchman , an Italian and an Australian. Jack Pontall was a big guy and I was as skinny as. He said “You beat this Dutch bastard or else”. It was really close between us… Cecil Tregilles won, Les Suckling finished 2nd and I managed to come in 3rd by a tyre. The Dutchie Jos Kollenberg was 4th and Jack 5th.

I moved permanently to W.A. in 1962 and, because it was part of the W.A. Road Racing Programme, the Beverley became an annual race for me. I lived in Belmont and rode for the Belmont club.

The nice thing about the race in 1962 was that my future wife of 60 odd years was in the crowd. We met later at the Fremantle track where I also raced. She remembered my name and we got together.

The other thing I remember is that back in those days, the Beverley was a big event and they used to give progress race reports over the radio.

My best Beverley finish was in 1975 when I won.

What I remember about the race was that I started from 41 minutes as did the three others in the bunch that formed. They consisted of, and finished the race in this order… myself, Steve Perks, Ralph Lloyd and Jim Blaikie. Jim was Scottish. He was a tough guy, as was Steve. Always took their turns. There are a lot of stories I could tell you about Steve! We rode together well as a bunch taking turns and we reached the front around Toodyay and were never headed from there.

We were riding at a reasonable pace but I was dropped around Gidgegannup. I never was a good hill climber. Fortunately, Jim Blaikie stayed with me and said “I’ll get you back up again”. And so he did. We always were pretty good mates.

The finish that year was at the Eden Hill Hotel. We were coming across the flats at Red Hill towards the finish and we were told to get going because scratch were only a few minutes behind us. Mike Dye and Bruce Hunt had picked up other riders on the way through.

I was fast enough and had some reserves and managed to win the sprint finish from my bunch.

I received the winner’s prize of $170 and the trophy of course but it was great just to be able to say “I won the Beverley to Perth”. The other guys in the bunch got their prize money too and, to show my appreciation, I said to Steve, “Here, you share the first prize money between you three”. Steve was bit of a brick short and to this day I don’t know if Steve knew what I meant and whether he did actually share the money!

Reg Homan and Des Williams in Kalgoorlie, 1953. Photo from Joe Barron’s album courtesy of the Barron family.

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Bruce Hunt's Beverley Recollections

1973

My first Beverley was in 1973 when I joined the professional cycling ranks.

I rode off scratch with Neville Veale, Henk Vogels Snr, Steve Pember and David Jones with limit riders on 42 minutes.

My memory is of a wet, rainy start and David Jones imploring us to be careful as we approached the diagonal railway crossing five kilometres from the start. Moments later, there was a clatter of grinding metal as Jones came down, never to be seen again.

In the meantime, Henk Vogels Snr was riding like a man possessed, only to blow up on Nine Mile Hill and vanish.

I punctured and was given a wheel, then made my way back through the convoy.

We hit the front at Red Hill. However, Bevan Barron on 12 minutes won the bunch sprint in Midland with Neville Veale and Steve Pember given equal second, Wayne Lally or Les Suckling I believe was fourth.

1974 (Fastest Time)

In the 1974 Beverley there were three of us on scratch… Mike Dye, Warren Rudd and myself. A pretty strong scratch group as Rudd had recently finished third in the Australian 200 kilometre road championship which Dye should have won in a lone breakaway, had he not crashed a few kilometres from the finish.

We caught most of the Beverley to Perth field apart from a few middle markers. All were dropped including Rudd.

That left a cagey Steve Pember from chopping block who had sat on from Northam to the bottom of Gidgegannup. He then unleashed a blistering attack leaving both me and Dye in his wake, although I still managed to get fastest time. Dye finished a further minute back.

Because I was the first rider inside four hours (3.57 for the 165k) journalist Alan Mackley gave my ride a headline that should have been saved for the second coming of Christ! Unfortunately, I wasn't the first. Steve Pember had finished ahead of me and almost snatched fastest time, clawing back almost four minutes of the five he was given. Hewson was the winner off 26 minutes.

1975 (Fastest Time)

The 1975 Beverley got even tougher.

Only Mike Dye and myself were on scratch, chasing 10 minutes to eight riders on chopping block.

According to Stan Fennel who followed us as commissaire, we apparently averaged just over 50 kph to catch block just out of Northam.

Again we didn't rope in the front markers but I think Mike Dye let me have time because usually he was a far better finisher than me. From my unreliable memory, Des Williams was the winner.

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The Original Hero

No conversation about the Beverley-to-Perth Race is complete without mentioning William Bonser.

“Toti”, as he was affectionately known – named after the Italian soprano Toti Dal Monte following an early-in-his-career post-race singing session in the shower – was originally from Coolgardie and completed his first Beverley-to-Perth in 1927 as a 17 year old.

He finished 18th off a 29 minute handicap. Not bad for a country kid from the flats racing against “race hardened warriors” well practiced on hills and pea gravel.

20 years and twelve Beverley-to-Perth starts later, the 37 year old Toti had on his trophy shelf three fastest times and four podiums. He finished in the Top 10 six times.

Toti retired from bike racing in 1947 to train racehorses. However, in 1975 after breaking his pelvis in a trotting accident, doctors told him he would always have trouble walking. He promptly jumped back on the bike to challenge that prognosis.

It took ten years, but in 1986 the spritely 74 year old would again climb to the top, this time in Masters Racing. Between 1986 and 1993, he collected a further 17 titles and podiums in various criteriums and road championships including “Best All Rounder” in the 1993 Australian Masters Games. He was 83.

And the Beverley-to-Perth? In 1989 at 77 years of age, he finished one more Beverley-to-Perth earning the “Most Courageous Rider” award.

The Collie “Bill ‘Toti’ Bonser Memorial” cycle race would be named in recognition of his cycling achievements. The highlight of the race was the ride up Heart Break Hill where Toti had launched a solo attack in 1934 and won. There in the bush near the memorial for Toti and his brother Edward ‘Stewart’, his ashes are scattered where in spirit he continues to ride with his fraternity.

With thanks to Kevin, Patsey and Kevin Bonser

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Tom Bridges - 1920 Beverley to Perth Winner

William Thomas Bridges was born in NSW in 1896. In 1917 when he enlisted for the war he was living in Kalgoorlie, working as a woodcutter. He served in the 28th battalion and was discharged on 10 Nov 1919.

Just 11 months later he won the Beverley-to-Perth. Sadly the family has no mementos of his racing achievements other than some cuttings from the Motorist & Wheelman and two images taken later, which indicate that he continued to race after his big win. Fortunately he can be recognised in the cuttings by the distinctive hat he wore during the race.

In 1921 he married Jean Murray in Coolgardie and when their first born son was born later that year it is interesting that they named him Beverley William. They lived in Bulong near Kalgoorlie where Tom made bricks to support his family. He and Jean retired to Mandurah where he died in 1980.

Tom Bridges is the rider on the left, location and other people are unidentified. The rider on the right could be the same person in the post card image below, taken in Narrogin in 1924. (photos courtesy Paul Bridges).
The last photo (courtesy the Kerry Stokes Collection) is of Tom finishing ahead of O’Brien outside the Norwood Hotel in 1920.

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