User:Wainfoatcyclingorgau/History of Cycling in Western Australia

Cycling in Western Australia has been a transport option since the early days, and competitive cycling an important part of that history.

Early history
1880's The first WA cycling Journal was "the Bicycle" of the 1880s, it folded after 3 months. It was followed by "Bicycle News" lasting 18 months, then "Australian Cycling News", folding in 1889

1889 The royal Show at Guildford,Western Australia had a bike race.

1890’sHutcheson and Hubert Hooley imported pneumatic tyres, an invention from England and began to win races from the cushioned tyres made of solid rubber about the size of a motorbike tyre.

1894 The State Cycling Championships were held at the trotting ground and were started by the Governor of the state, with a supreme court judge picking the winners. The Champion over all distances was Cecil Dent, dethroning RO Law 1893 champion.

1895
 * January 26, 1895 Cycle racing held at Old cricket ground. The WA Wheel race was held over 2 miles. AE Sampson won over C Dent, with 7 starters. An interclub contest of 3 riders from Fremantle and Perth, with Fremantle winning.Attendees at the event include His Excellency Sir William Robertson, 'Sir Edward Stone', Rev. Mr Hanlon, and his 'Honour Judge James'.
 * Track racing was held at the West Australian Cricket ground.

1896
 * formation of Bunbury Cycling Club
 * First Westral Wheel race, won by Jack Boylan

1897
 * Rover Road Race, Beverly to Perth, won by Jack Beck
 * The Uniting of Cyclists in Western Australia originated in 1897 with the formation of the "League of West Australian Wheelmen". There are differences of opinion from the start which resulted in the Fremantle and Perth Cycling Clubs orgainsing their own control;.

Date ?Local riders performed well in national competition: Joe Mc Sweeney, A Pianta and TW Simpson.

The war years
1919 1920 Mr Les Allen ran the Elite Cycle and Motor Works, 834 Hay St., Perth.
 * The present day control of cycling racing in WA started when the three bodies restarted cycling after the First World War in 1919.
 * "The league of Western Austrlaian Wheelmen" founded in July 1897 controlled the professional races of Western Australia. The "Fremantle Amateur Cycling Club" and the "Perth Amateur Cycling Club" registered in 1907 by W,Gibbon met and agreed to form an Amateur controlling body for WA and so the " West Australian Amateur Cyclist Union" began.Both bodies were affiliated with the "Union Cycliste International"
 * For both the Amateur and professional racers the 25 Mile Time trial championships ran from 1919 to 1982, 50 Mile Road championships from 1919 to 1982 and Long distance championships 1897 to 1982

1929 Horrie Marshal won the 1929 Warrnambool to Melbourne

1933 On 3 August 1933 The WA Amateur Cyclist Union formed the "Metropolitan Womens Amateur cycling Club" president Mrs. J.O'Connor and Honorary Secretary Miss P.Lane. First race was 5 mile handicap with 1shilling nominations.The start was at 'Bayswater Hotel' at 10.30am travelling 2.5miles along Beechboro Road and return. First prize was a pair of shoes donated by Mr H Canton.1st. P Lane 2nd G O’Connor 3rd S Hillman

The post war years
1968 Peg O’Shea of Queensland rode a 45 mile handicap race at Perry Lakes, and in 1970 won a 30 mile handicap.

1982
 * Control of cycling races continued until 1983 when the professional and amateur racing came under the control of "The West Australian Cycling Federation". This meeting in 1982 was held in Mount Hawthorn where the concrete velodrome circled the now Athena Soccer club.
 * Founding members were: President Jim Mitchell, Vice President Ken Benson, Executive Officer Russell Miller, Finance Officer Clive Hammond, Amateur rep. Mike Poyner, North Zone Rep. Stan Fennell, South Zone Rep. Ken Norris, East Zone rep. Mark Keyser.

Present Day
Amateur racing Competitive cycling in Western Australia For those with a competitive nature, there are many opportunities to become involved in organised amateur cycle racing in Western Australia.

Road and track racing The traditional form of bicycle racing that has a strong following all around WA. Several clubs operate in the Perth metropolitan area and there are also many regional areas with strong representation. Racing consists of longer distance road events, criteria or street circuit events, and enclosed track events at the Midvale Speed Dome run by Track Cycling WA.

Mountain bike, downhill and other off-road racing One the newest and fastest growing forms of bicycle racing that makes use of non-paved surfaces. The main disciplines are cross-country, downhill and freestyle. Regular events are held throughout Western Australia.

BMX racing This sport is currently enjoying substantial popularity rivalling its heyday of the 1980s, due in part to its inclusion at the Beijing Olympics. The two main forms are track and freestyle. There are more than two-dozen registered clubs in the State.

Masters racing Competitive cycling is not just an activity for younger riders. The West Coast Masters Cycling Council organises a huge range of events for male cyclists over 35 and female cyclists over 30. Many of these races are graded so that different age groups can compete against one another.

Handcycle racing A well-organised event calendar is available for riders, who due to a variety of circumstances, are unable to propel themselves using leg power, and instead must rely upon their upper body to generate momentum. At the higher levels, this form of racing is extremely competitive.

Triathlon racing Cycling makes up one third of this rapidly growing sport and it enjoys considerable cross-over with traditional road cycling.

Personalities and histories
Les C	ANDREWS	
 * "Operated bike shop and rode cycles in vic park, when albany hwy was a dirt road. son Terry in cyclo sportif." Jim Krynen,2010
 * WACF Life member

Mrs HM	ANDREWS	deceasedWACF Life member

Steele 	BISHOP	
 * "His most notable performance was winning the World 5000m Individual Pursuit Championship in Zurich in 1983. He was a 1972 Munich Olympian and won numerous Australian and State Championships on the track. As far as I am aware he was the first West Australian to win a Senior World Track Championship. Steele and Darryl Benson are the only West Australians to win the famous Austral and Westral Wheelrace double. Steele was inducted into the WA Hall of fame and has a bronze statue on the walk of fame at Challenge stadium. Steele was a long time Kalamunda resident and had a long career with the WA Fire Service. I knew the guy pretty well – I was his coach." Ken Benson, Life Member: League of WA Wheelmen, 2010 *WACF Life member
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steele_Bishop

Bristow-Stagg, Phil
 * Selected for Australian Commonwealth Track team for 1968 and won the 1000m time trial silver medal.''
 * WACF Life member

David	BROWN	 WACF Life member

WR	Brown	 WACF Life member

Nelson W 	Burton	deceased April 2010, WACF Life member

MRS A	Burton •	"wife of Nelson Burton, mid 70's . •	Once at an AGM at old track in Mnt Hawthorn, boring as hell, Nelson straight man asking for some location for a race, and she said to the 70 people, her english accent "Wanneroo" , brought the house down." Jim Krynen, 2010
 * WACF Life member

Joe 	Cox •	"Life member of Northern Districts Cycle Club." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA, 2010<
 * WACF Life member

Les	Cugley	deceased WACF Life member

H 	Dovey	deceased WACF Life member

Reg	Dovey	deceased WACF Life member

Margaret	DUNNE •	"Very active member of Southern Districts Cycling Club." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA
 * 2010 WACF Life member

Michael	DUNNE •	Very active member of Southern Districts Cycling Club." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA, 2010
 * WACF Life member

Jack	Gerke •	"Jack was born in Claremont and commenced racing in 1934 as a member of the North Perth Club. •	He won the “Pinjarra” in his first year and gained Fastest Time in the same event in 1938 and 1939. •	During his racing careers he was a dual track and road scratch man and won his last race, the State 25 Mile Unpaced Championship. •	He represented the “west” in the ”Colac to Melbourne” on 3 occasions 1935, 1936, and 1937 and was 1st Interstate rider in all of those events. •	Jack had 2 brothers who were successful but were killed in the 1939-45 war. •	Jack joined the Army as a private in the Infantry Battalion and rose to the rank of Captain in the Middle East, New Guinea, Borneo and the Pacific Islands.   Discharged at the end of the war he was recalled 2 years later for the Korean War. •	During the Korean campaign he attained the rank of Major and two of his decorations were the Distinguished Service Order and the United States Presidential Citation. •	In 1954 he was wounded and return to Australia and he renewed his interest in amateur cycling. In 1955 was became an official of WAACU and took an interest in coaching. Geoff GLASSON won the “Bunbury” Classic that year •	By 1956 Jack was on the State Executive Committee. •	During his 9 years on the SEC he held the position of State Selector and nominated as WA representative on the National Selection Committee. •	His talent allowed him to fulfil the roles of Timekeeper, Starter, and State Team Manager on a few occasions and was Chairman of a Constitution Committee that revised that document after drifting along for 19 years. •	In his later years he coached some notable WA members including Henk VOGELS and Phill BRISTOW-STAGG." George Nelson, 2010
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Gerke
 * WACF Life member

Steele 	Griffiths	WACF Life member

Arthur Stanley GURNEY, (1908–1942), clerk and soldier, was born on 15 December 1908 at Day Dawn, on the Murchison goldfields, Western Australia, fourth of five children of George Gurney, miner, and his wife Jane, née Roberts, both from South Australia. Educated at the local state school and at Stott's Business College, Perth, Stan began work with a real-estate agent. From June 1927 he was employed as a clerk and meter-fixer with the City of Perth Electricity and Gas Department. An enthusiastic cyclist, he won a number of road-races and officiated at fixtures conducted by the League of Western Australian Wheelmen.

Murray	HALL	WACF Life member

Ray	HAMMOND	WACF Life member

Doug	Haseldine •	"Official of the late 70's, raced in early days not sure, Commissaire," Jim Krynen,2010
 * WACF Life member

David	Hill	deceased WACF Life member

A	Hodge	 WACF Life member

Peter	Huddleston	deceased •	"NDCC, english nice fellow, track racing, early 70s from England. Son, Wes, used to race, and a good 40km time triallist, very good mechanic. Peter crashed regularly on the Mount Hawthorn track." Jim Krynen,2010 A	Jack	WACF Life member
 * WACF Life member

Lucas, Nick
 * Fastest time for 7 years, 1950 to 1956 Northam to Perth race. Won the Australian Amateur Road Champion 1952

Russell	MILLER	 •	"Very active member and President of Melville fremantle Cycling Club, and Commissaire." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA,2010
 * WACF Life member

Panton, Peter
 * 1958 Australian Pursuit Champion

K	Petersen	deceased WACF Life member

J	Renner	 WACF Life member

Peter	ROBINSON •	"Very active member of Southern Districts Cycling Club, Commissaire and coach." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA,2010 Fred	Schryver •	"20' or 30's," Jim Krynen,2010 John	Smith •	"Very active member and starting most Cycling races in Western Australia. •	Winner Midland traders 100 miler 1951, •	1947 backed to win 1000 pounds Collie -Donnybrook, punctured 3 times as he came onto the bitumen off the gravel, tires over the shoulder, and lost the race." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA,2010
 * WACF Life member
 * WACF Life member
 * WACF Life member

Betty 	Smith •	"Very active member and assisting most Cycling races in Western Australia." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA,2010
 * WACF Life member

Dennis	Stallard	deceased •	"Bike importer shed in backyard behind QE 2 -Shenton park, first to import campagnola, secret shed, brother in UK making "stellard" frames, riding into his 80's, aroundride kings park yellow rain coat." Jim Krynen, I	Stallard •	wife of D Stallard, WACF Life member
 * 2010
 * WACF Life member

Pam 	Suckling •	"handicapper and lady with the phone, Garry Suckling's mum, pro background," Jim Krynen,2010
 * WACF Life member

Brian	TAYLOR	 •	"Very active member of track Cycling WA, and Commissaire." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA,2010
 * WACF Life member

Hendricus	VOGELS	• "Very active member and President of Southern Districts Cycling Club, Coach and Commissaire. •	Involved with Henk Vogels Cycling Foundation." Toby Hodgson, Cycling WA,2010
 * WACF Life member

John 	Ward	deceased •	"Ward cycles in Morley long lasting brand name, son used to race, pro background track and road rider." Jim Krynen,2010
 * WACF Life member

Ken	Ward •	"still lives in Applecross (he was the founder of the 'WA Vets' that is now defunct but officially merged with ATTA when we began) Peter Meyer, ATTA

•	Historian, can fill in blanks, Ken diligently collecting information, riding till not long ago 80 years. Once on a state trip away, as a coach he tested physically all of the team- stretch test and the like. Allan Bunter came along as mechanic and he was tested as the fittest. Sadly the next day athletes walked like soldiers’ due to the testing, and were a little off pace." Jim Krynen, 2010
 * WACF Life member