ATHY CYCLIST IN AUSTRALIA
Leinster Leader, September 30th 1905
Athy Cyclist In Australia
The Sydney “Morning Herald of August 14th says:-
With an enterprise that is praiseworthy the Pioneer Motor Cycle Club held another contest for motor cycles on Saturday last. The distance was five miles, the start taking place from the fifth milestone beyond Sherwood Park to within two miles of Parramatta. The course was about the best that could be selected for proving the endurance of a motor, the entire distance being made up of a series of ups and downs of the severest description. Indeed, though 12 entries had been received for the race, only five put in an appearance, viz: A.J. Bergin, of Ireland, 3 ½ h.p. Brown: W.S. Knowles, 3 h.p., Buchet ser: E. Daniels. 2 ¾ h.p. Sarolea 10s: A.J. Powell, 2 ¾ h.p. Minivera, 15c: G. Wood, 1 ¾ h.p.. Wood 1m 55s. The race started at 4.40 p.m., Wood getting away at a great rate. Powell left his mark 1m 40s later, and getting away to a brilliant start commenced to cover the ground at a terrific bat. Daniels was soon after Powell, only 10s intervening between their times off leaving the mark. The last riders to get away were the scratch me, Bergin and Knowles. Bergin had the higher powered machine. Knowles’s mount having been penalised 50s for winning the club’s last bost away, cut out the pace at a great rate, and was fully a quarter of a mile ahead of his fellow-marksman in the first mile. The latter, however, soon began to creep up once his motor got going. The race eventually resulted in a popular win for the Irish champion who beat Knowles by 100 yards. Powell was a good third, and Daniels fourth, close up. Wood romped into fifth position in fine style. The respective times of the winners were:- A.J. Bergin, actual riding time 7m 55s; W.S. Knowles, actual riding time, actual riding time 7m 59s: A.J. Powell riding time, 8m 30s. F. Daniels, riding time, 8m 35s, G. Wood, 9m 10s.
The Mr. Bergin referred to above is an Athy man, and before leaving the country he won many valuable prizes on the track.
A report from the Leinster Leader of September 30 1905 on an Athy man’s exploits in a Sydney newspaper article, re-typed by Roy O’Brien
