Austral Wheel Race
Austral Wheel Race | |
---|---|
General | |
Established | 1887 |
Held | December |
Country | Australia |
Region | Victoria |
Type | Handicap race over 2000 m |
Data | |
Editions | 121 |
First Winner | H. Lambton, AUS |
Most Recent | Sam Gallagher, AUS |
Most Wins | Stephen Pate, AUS, (4) |
The Austral Wheel Race is the oldest track bicycle race in the world still existing, stretching back to 1887. It is owned and run by Cycling Victoria. The Austral race is Australia’s greatest track cycling event. It is held in Melbourne, riders assigned handicaps according to ability over a series of heats. The finals are run over 2000m.[1]
The races in 2004 and 2005 were at Vodafone Arena in February. The first race in 1887 held at Melbourne Cricket Ground over 3 miles (4800m), with first prize of a grand piano valued at 200 pounds. Other venues in Melbourne to host the race include the Exhibition Track, the North Essendon board track, the Olympic Park Velodrome and the Brunswick, Coburg and Northcote velodromes.
Malvern Star, a brand in bicycles in Australia, had its origins in the race. In December 1898 a young bicycle mechanic and professional cyclist, Tom Finnigan, won from a handicap of 220 yards (200 m) holding off backmarkers with a foot to spare. The prize of 240 sovereigns let him establish a suburban bicycle shop, Malvern Star Cycles, which became a household name under Bruce Small.
Corruption tinged the event in 1901 when the American, "Plugger" Bill Martin, won from scratch, to allegations of fixing by John Wren.[2] According to The Age in 1903 referring to 1902 "one of the judges appointed to officiate at the Austral Wheel meeting was called upon to resign, because he had a monetary interest in the result of the Austral Wheel Race."[3]
In February 2005 Ben Kersten won from scratch in a time of 2min 06.10 sec, an average of 57.09 km/h.
Prize money
Prize money has varied, following the fashion for cycling, from a grand piano to monetary prizes of 240 sovereigns in 1898, 1,050 in 1902, to a low of $1500 during the 1970s, increasing to $5,000 in 1982, and now exceeding $18,000 since 2000.
Past winners
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Crisp_winner_of_the_Austral_1895.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Crisp_winner_of_the_Austral_1895.tif.jpg)
Past competitors include distinguished Australian and international cyclists, including Gordon Johnson, Steele Bishop, Sid Patterson, Russell Mockridge, Danny Clarke, Brett Aitken, Gary Neiwand and Shane Kelly. The record for the most wins belongs to Victorian Stephen Pate with four victories: in 1988 from scratch, in 1991 from minus 10m, in 1993 from minus 20m and 1999 from scratch.
In 2000, Neiwand was handicapped on 70m for the millennium edition and won comfortably.
Year | Venue | Men's Winner | Handicap | Ref. | Women's Winner | Handicap | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1887 [n 1] | MCG | H. Lambton, NSW | 210 yd (190 m) | [4] | ||
2 | 1888 [n 1] | MCG | Dick Davis, SA | Scr | [5] | ||
3 | 1889 [n 1] | MCG | J. Mullins, SA | 140 yd (130 m) | [6] | ||
4 | 1890 [n 1] | MCG | Tom Busst, Vic | Scr. | [7] | ||
5 | 1891 [n 1] | MCG | Arthur Turner | 240 yd (220 m) | [8] | ||
6 | 1892 [n 1] | MCG | H.H. Lambton, Vic | 200 yd (180 m) | [9] | ||
7 | 1893 | MCG | Gordon Woodward, Vic | 270 yd (250 m) | [10] | ||
8 | 1894 | MCG | Alf Middleton, Vic | 180 yd (160 m) | [11] | ||
9 | 1895 | MCG | A. Crisp | 250 yd (230 m) | [12] | ||
10 | 1896 | MCG | Charles Kellow | 15 yd (14 m) | [13] | ||
11 | 1897 | MCG | Jim Carpenter | 85 yd (78 m) | [14] | ||
12 | 1898 | MCG | Tom Finnigan | 220 yd (200 m) | [15] | ||
13 | 1899 | MCG | Frank Beauchamp | 150 yd (140 m) | [16] | ||
14 | 1900 | MCG | Charles Forbes | 30 yd (27 m) | [17] | ||
15 | 1901 | MCG | Bill Martin | Scr | [2][18] | ||
16 | 1902 | MCG | Murray Auger | 240 yd (220 m) | [19] | ||
17 | 1903 | MCG | Fred Scheps | 160 yd (150 m) | [20] | ||
18 | 1904 | EXA | Jack Clarke | 150 yd (140 m) | [21] | ||
19 | 1905 | EXA | J. Sandberg | 170 yd (160 m) | [22] | ||
20 | 1906 | EXA | Harry Thomas | 20 yd (18 m) | [23] | ||
21 | 1907 | MCG | A.C. Colvin | 150 yd (140 m) | [24] | ||
22 | 1908 | MCG | M. McPherson | 280 yd (260 m) | [25] | ||
23 | 1909 | MCG | Albert H. Pianta | 210 yd (190 m) | [26] | ||
24 | 1910 | MCG | Frank Corry | 140 yd (130 m) | |||
25 | 1912 | EXI | W. Priestly | 60 yd (55 m) | |||
26 | 1913 | EXI | P.B. Henry | 60 yd (55 m) | |||
27 | 1920 | EXA | Ern. Tamme | 50 yd (46 m) | |||
28 | 1921 | EXA | Lou Clifford | 120 yd (110 m) | |||
29 | 1922 | EXA | Jack Fitzgerald | Scr | [27] | ||
30 | 1923 | EXA | Dick Ford | 120 yd (110 m) | |||
31 | 1923 | MD | Pidge Davis | 200 yd (180 m) | |||
32 | 1925 | MD | Frank Corry | 140 yd (130 m) | |||
33 | 1925 | EXA | Eric Giboud | 60 yd (55 m) | |||
34 | 1927 [n 2] | EXA | Bowie Stevens | 70 yd (64 m) | |||
35 | 1927 [n 2] | MD | Cecil Hannerman | 160 yd (150 m) | |||
36 | 1927 [n 2] | MD | Cecil Manners | 245 yd (224 m) | |||
37 | 1929 | MD | Richard “Fatty” Lamb | 30 yd (27 m) | [28] | ||
38 | 1936 [n 3] | MD | Keith Thurgood | 100 yd (91 m) | |||
39 | 1936 [n 3] | EXB | Harry Webb | 70 yd (64 m) | |||
40 | 1937 | EXB | Jack Gardiner | 205 yd (187 m) | [29] | ||
41 | 1938 | EXB | Jack Middleton | 120 yd (110 m) | |||
42 | 1939 | NE | Clinton Beasley | 90 yd (82 m) | |||
43 | 1940 | NE | Norm Stevens | 20 yd (18 m) | |||
44 | 1941 | NE | Ken Stewart | 60 yd (55 m) | |||
45 | 1942 | NE | Mick Bradley | 160 yd (150 m) | |||
46 | 1944 [n 3] | NE | Norm Munro | 90 yd (82 m) | |||
47 | 1944 [n 3] | NE | Tas. Johnson [n 4] | 30 yd (27 m) | |||
48 | 1945 | NE | Tom Shillito | 160 yd (150 m) | |||
49 | 1946 | NE | Pat Devine | 120 yd (110 m) | |||
50 | 1947 | NE | George Bull | 130 yd (120 m) | |||
51 | 1948 | NE | Bill Kirkham | 120 yd (110 m) | |||
52 | 1950 | NE | Byron Bonney | 120 yd (110 m) | |||
53 | 1951 | NE | Kevin Marion | 105 yd (96 m) | |||
54 | 1952 | NE | Doug Jennings | 120 yd (110 m) | |||
55 | 1953 | NE | Tom Fitzgerald | 140 yd (130 m) | |||
56 | 1954 | NE | Alan Geddes | 130 yd (120 m) | |||
57 | 1955 | NE | Ron Murray | 100 yd (91 m) | |||
58 | 1956 | NE | Don Meharg | 130 yd (120 m) | |||
59 | 1957 | NE | John Robertson | 100 yd (91 m) | |||
60 | 1958 | OP | Neil Geraghty | 100 yd (91 m) | |||
61 | 1959 | OP | Vin Beasley | 100 yd (91 m) | |||
62 | 1960 | OP | David Good | 100 yd (91 m) | |||
63 | 1961 | OP | Fred Roche | 40 yd (37 m) | |||
64 | 1962 | OP | Sid Patterson | Scr | [30] | ||
65 | 1963 | OP | Fred Hellyer | 110 yd (100 m) | |||
66 | 1964 | OP | Sid Patterson | Scr. | |||
67 | 1965 | OP | Kenton Smith | 135 yd (123 m) | |||
68 | 1966 | OP | Bill Dove | 150 yd (140 m) | |||
69 | 1967 | OP | Victor Browne | 65 yd (59 m) | |||
70 | 1968 | OP | Merv. Andrea | 230 yd (210 m) | |||
71 | 1969 | OP | Charlie Walsh | 50 yd (46 m) | |||
72 | 1970 | OP | Bill Stevens | 35 yd (32 m) | |||
73 | 1971 | BV | Frank Daly | 135 yd (123 m) | |||
74 | 1972 | BV | Geoff Edmonds | 20 yd (18 m) | |||
75 | 1973 | BV | Gordon Johnson [n 4] | Scr. | |||
76 | 1974 | BV | Ivan Collings | 90 yd (82 m) | |||
77 | 1975 | NV | Craig Price | 130 yd (120 m) | [1] | ||
78 | 1976 | NV | David Allan | 70 yd (64 m) | |||
79 | 1977 | NV | Danny Clark | Scr. | |||
80 | 1978 | CV | David Sanders [n 5] | 50 m | |||
81 | 1979 | CV | Laurie Venn | Scr. | |||
82 | 1980 | CV | Daryl Benson | 90 m | |||
83 | 1981 | CV | Laurie Venn | Scr. | |||
84 | 1982 | NV | Steele Bishop | Scr. | |||
85 | 1983 | NV | Phil Sawyer | Scr. | |||
86 | 1984 | NV | Terry Schintler | 80 m | |||
87 | 1985 | NV | Allan Rackstraw | 80 m | |||
88 | 1986 | CV | Danny Clark | Scr. | |||
89 | 1987 | NV | Simon King | 110 m | |||
90 | 1988 | NV | Stephen Pate | Scr. | |||
91 | 1989 | NV | Grant Reynolds | 150 m | |||
92 | 1990 | NV | Danny Clark | Scr. | |||
93 | 1991 | NV | Stephen Pate | Minus 10 m | |||
94 | 1992 | NV | Bert Glennon | 120 m | |||
95 | 1993 | NV | Stephen Pate | Minus 20 m | |||
96 | 1994 | NV | Ashley Harding | 140 m | |||
97 | 1995 | NV | Tony Hughes | 80 m | |||
98 | 1996 | NV | Troy Clarke | 45 m | |||
99 | 1997 | NV | Matthew Atkins | 100 m | |||
100 | 1998 | NV | Shane Hodskiss | 75 m | |||
101 | 1999 | NV | Stephen Pate | Scr. | [31] | ||
102 | 2000 | NV | Gary Neiwand | 70 m | [32] | ||
103 | 2001 | MPMPV | Mark French | 80 m | [33] | ||
104 | 2002 | MPMPV | Darren Young | scr | [34] | ||
105 | 2003 | MPMPV | Darren Young | scr | [35] | ||
106 | 2004 | MPMPV | Zak Dempster | 90 m | [36] | ||
107 | 2005 | MPMPV | Ben Kersten | Scr. | [37] | ||
108 | 2006 | MPMPV | Dean Taylor | 130 m | [38] | ||
109 | 2007 | MPMPV | Joel Stewart | 110 m | [39] | ||
110 | 2008 | MPMPV | Jackson-Leigh Rathbone | 40 m | [40] | ||
111 | 2009 [n 3] | MPMPV | Shane Perkins | 15 m | [41] | ||
112 | 2009 [n 3] | DISC | Ben Sanders [n 5] | 80 m | [42] | ||
113 | 2011 | DISC | Luke Ockerby | 45 m | [43] | ||
114 | 2012 | DISC | Luke Parker | 90 m | [44] | Annette Edmondson | Scr. |
115 | 2013 | DISC | Jason Niblett | 90 m | [45] | Caitlin Ward | 20 m |
116 | 2014 [n 3] | DISC | ![]() |
105 m | [46] | Annina Gallagher | 230 m |
117 | 2014 [n 3] | MPMPV | ![]() |
105 m | [47] | Brooke Tucker | 110 m |
118 | 2015 | MPMPV | Mitch Bullen | 50 m | [48] | Annette Edmondson | Scr. |
119 | 2016 | MPMPV | Stephen Cuff | 95 m | [49] | Brooklyn Vonderwall | 125 m |
120 | 2017 | MPMPV | Zachary Marshall | 80 m | [50] | Kristina Clonan | 30 m |
Venues
Venue | Surface | Years | |
---|---|---|---|
BV | Brunswick Velodrome | Cement | 1971–1974 |
CV | Coburg Velodrome | Cement | 1978–1981 1986 |
DISC | Darebin International Sports Centre | Timber | 2009–2014 |
EXA | Exhibition Track | Asphalt | 1904–1906, 1920–1923 1925–1927 |
EXB | Exhibition Board Track | Timber | 1936–1938 |
EXI | Exhibition Indoor Track | Timber | 1912–1913 |
MCG | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Grass | 1887–1903 1907–1910 |
MD | Motordrome (Olympic Park) | Cement | 1923–1925 1927–1936 |
MPMPV | Melbourne Park Multi-Purpose Venue AKA Vodafone Arena / Hisense Arena | Timber | 2001–2009 2014– |
NE | North Essendon Board Track | Timber | 1939–1957 |
NV | Northcote Velodrome | Cement | 1975–1977 1982–1985 1988–2000 |
OP | Olympic Park Velodrome | Timber | 1958–1970 |
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Ridden on ordinary or Penny-farthing bicycles
- ^ a b c Same Year, Different Season, Venues & Promoters
- ^ a b c d e f g h Same Year, Different Season
- ^ a b 1973 winner Gordon Johnson is the son of 1944 winner Tas. Johnson.
- ^ a b 2009 winner Ben Sanders is the son of 1978 winner David Sanders.[42]
References
- ^ a b "The 1975 Austral Wheelrace". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 4 February 2006.
- ^ a b Browne. "Martin, William Walker (Bill) (1860–1942)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
{{cite encyclopedia}}
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ignored (|first=
suggested) (help) - ^ "A cycling judge's bets. Why the resignation was requested. The austral wheel case". The Age. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 17 January 1903. p. 8.
- ^ "Melbourne Bicycle Club Race Meeting". The Australasian. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 26 November 1887. p. 23.
- ^ "Cycling". The Australasian. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 24 November 1888. p. 31.
- ^ "Wheel notes". The Australasian. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 30 November 1889. p. 23.
- ^ "Melbourne Bicycle Club Spring Meeting". The Australasian. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 29 November 1890. p. 19.
- ^ "Melbourne Bicycle Club Sports". The Age. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 23 November 1891. p. 6.
- ^ "Melbourne Bicycle Club's Sports". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 16 November 1892. p. 3.
- ^ "The Austral Wheel Race". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 13 December 1893. p. 3.
- ^ "The cycling championship at Melbourne". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 12 December 1894. p. 3.
- ^ "The M.B.C. meeting". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 11 December 1895. p. 3.
- ^ "The Austral Final". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 9 December 1896. p. 6.
- ^ "The Austral". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 15 December 1897. p. 6.
- ^ "The Austral Wheel Race". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 14 December 1898. p. 6.
- ^ "The Austral Meeting". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 20 December 1899. p. 6.
- ^ "Austral Wheel Race won by Forbes". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 17 December 1900. p. 7.
- ^ "Austral Wheel Race won by Martin". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 16 December 1901. p. 5.
- ^ "Austral Wheel Race won by F Auger". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 12 January 1903. p. 7.
- ^ "Austral Wheel Race won by Scheps". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 12 January 1903. p. 7.
- ^ "The Austral Wheel Race won by A.J Clarke". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 19 December 1904. p. 7.
- ^ "Austral Wheel Race J H Sandberg winner, S S Levey disqualified". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 18 December 1905. p. 6.
- ^ "Austral meeting third day. Thomas's brilliant win". The Australasian. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 22 December 1906. p. 23.
- ^ "Austral Wheel Race won by Colvin". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 18 December 1907. p. 10.
- ^ "Austral Wheel Race a wWarnambool winner". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 14 December 1908. p. 7.
- ^ "Austral Meeting, Pianta wins the Wheel Race". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 22 December 1909. p. 9.
- ^ "15,000 People Applaud Fitzgerald's Austral Victory". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 22 November 1922. p. 13.
- ^ "Lamb's Double — Wins "Austral" Wheel Race and Paced Event Brilliantly". Sporting Globe. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 6 March 1929. p. 10.
- ^ "Stole Austral". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 9 December 1937. p. 28.
- ^ "Back and beyond". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 24 February 2007.
- ^ "Northcote Velodrome, 101st Austral Wheel Race, 2000m, February 13e". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ "Austral Wheelrace Melbourne, Australia, February 12, 2000". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ "103rd Austral Wheelrace". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ "Austral goes to Tasmanian Young-gun". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ "Darren Young takes historic double". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ "Bendigo teenager claims 106th Austral". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ "Kersten wins Austral wheelrace". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 26 February 2005.
- ^ "Sixth time the charm for Taylor". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ "Joel Stewart wins Austral cycle race". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 24 February 2007.
- ^ "Rathbone scrapes home in Austral Wheelrace". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 16 March 2008.
- ^ "Perkins powers to Austral crown". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ a b "Sanders family tradition". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 17 December 2009.
- ^ "Ockerby wins maiden Austral crown". cyclingnews.com.
- ^ "Edmondson and Parker the stars of the 2012 Austral". Cycling Victoria. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ "The 115th Austral Wheelrace Taken By Jason Niblett". cyclingtips.com.au.
- ^ "Minori Shimmura & Annina Gallagher secure the 116th Austral spoils". Cycling Victoria. Archived from the original on 21 December 2015.
- ^ "A packed house welcomes the Austral back to Hisense". Cycling Victoria. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Edmondson & Bullen added to Austral honour roll". Cycling Victoria. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
- ^ "Mens 119th Austral Wheelrace Final". Cycling Victoria. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.;
"Womens: Austral Wheelrace Final". Cycling Victoria. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017. - ^ "Austral and Australian Madison Results" (PDF). Cycling Victoria. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2017.
External links
- "Tom Finnigan". Canberra Bicycle Museum. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009.
- Austral Wheel Race history