KILDARE MAN’S NEW CYCLING RECORD

Leinster Leader October 27 1956

Kildare Man’s New Cycling Record

The slightly built thirty-seven-year-old Monasterevan speed man – Con Carr of the Midland Cycling Club, and present holder of the Cork-Dublin, and Galway-Dublin records, set the cycling world ablaze on Sunday when he set up new figures for the Limerick-Dublin trip, having covered the 120 miles in 5 hours 11 minutes.

Since the previous record was established in October, 1935 by Alo Donegan of Portartlington, former world record holder, at 5 hours 24 minutes-his average speed was just over 22 miles per hour-the record has been one of the greatest ambitions of distance cyclists.

Carr, whose average speed was 23.8 miles per hour, covered the final 21 miles in 55 minutes.The start was made from Limerick city and a glance at his progress during the race will show the remarkable consistency he displayed in riding the gruelling journey.

He covered the first 24 miles to Nenagh in 1 hr 1 min. Roscrea (44 miles) 1 hr 54 min, Borris-in-Ossary (51 miles) 2 hr. 9 min. Mountrath (60 miles) 2 hr 38 min. Kildare (97 miles) 3 hr 51 min. Dublin (120 miles) 5 hr. 11 min

For Olympic Games

A truly wonderful performance for a truly great cyclist. In his twelve years in the cycling limelight he scored hard and frequently, but the 1956 season has dawned a brilliant age indeed for Con. Next month he travels to Melbourne . He has been chosen by the National Cycling Association with other riders to represent at the Olympic Games.

An article from the Leinster Leader of 27 October 1956 on the new cycling record set by Con Carr