Don Kirkham (cyclist)

Don Kirkham
Personal information
Full name Duncan Kirkham
Born (1887-07-23)23 July 1887
Lyndhurst, NSW
Died 30 April 1930(1930-04-30) (aged 42)
St Arnaud, Vic
Team information
Role Rider

Duncan "Don" Kirkham (23 July 1887 - 30 April 1930) was an Australian racing cyclist.

Career highlights

1910
1st Scone to Newcastle
1st and fastest Goulburn to Sydney Classic [1]
1911
2nd and fastest Goulburn to Sydney Classic [2]
1913
1st in Melbourne, Six Days
1914
17th general classification Tour de France
1922
2nd fastest Warrnambool to Melbourne Classic [3]

Kirkham was a regular competitor in Australian long distance cycling races. He won the Goulburn to Sydney Classic in 1910, riding off scratch and setting the fastest time.[1][4] In 1911 he was 2nd and set the fastest time, riding the 131 miles (211 km) in a record time of 6h 19' 31".[2] Kirkham's time was not beaten until 1925 by Richard "Fatty" Lamb.[5] He had previously finished 5th in 1909.[6] and finished outside the top 20 in 1912.[7]

In 6 attempts, Kirkham was never able to set the fastest time nor win the Warrnambool to Melbourne Classic, his best result being 2nd fastest time in 1922.[3] He finished 28th in 1907,[8] 128th in 1908,[9] 18th in 1909,[10] 19th in 1910 [11] and 21st in 1923.[12] Kirkham intended to retire after the 1924 Warrnambool, however he was knocked down by a motor car two weeks prior to the race.[13]

He competed in the 1914 Tour de France with Iddo Munro and finished 17th in the general classification. His best result was 9th in Stage 13, a 325 km (202 mi) mountain stage from Belfort to Longwy. After the Tour, whilst in Paris he won a bet in riding 25 miles in 60 minutes.[14] Kirkham took up farming during World War I and resumed racing in 1920.[15] Kirkham was a successful six-day racer in Australia.[14] Kirkham's last race was the Cycle Traders 100 mile in 1924.[16] He was returning home from that race when he was hit by a car and was so badly injured that he was forced to retire.[17] He coached Hubert Opperman in his first race.[14]

He died on 30 April 1930 in St Arnaud, Victoria.[14][18] He was buried in Dandenong Cemetery.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 "Goulburn to Sydney—Victorian riders score.". The Referee (Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia). 21 September 1910. p. 9.
  2. 1 2 "Goulburn to Sydney road race.". The Referee (Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia). 27 September 1911. p. 10.
  3. 1 2 "New Zealand riders triumph in Warrnambool race". The Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 14 October 1922. p. 2.
  4. ↑ Fry, Craig. "The end of the Goulburn to Sydney Cycling Classic?". Cycling Tips, September 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Sensational Finish in Road Race.". Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW: National Library of Australia). 22 September 1925. p. 8.
  6. ↑ "Goulburn to Sydney.". The Referee (Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia). 22 September 1909. p. 9.
  7. ↑ "Dunlop Road Race.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: National Library of Australia). 16 September 1912. p. 5.
  8. ↑ "Dunlop Road Race M. B. Dobie wins". The Argus (Melbourne) (National Library of Australia). 30 September 1907. p. 6.
  9. ↑ "Dunlop Road Race won by J.T. Donohue, NSW". The Argus (Melbourne) (National Library of Australia). 5 October 1908. p. 8.
  10. ↑ "Dunlop Road Race W.E. Knaggs the winner". The Argus (Melbourne) (National Library of Australia). 4 October 1909. p. 8.
  11. ↑ "Dunlop Road Race won by C.A. Piercey". The Argus (Melbourne) (National Library of Australia). 3 October 1910. p. 5.
  12. ↑ "P. Wells wins Warrnambool road race today". The Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 27 October 1923. p. 3.
  13. ↑ "W.F. King wins world's famous Warrnambool from C. Snell and A.J. Brumby". The Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 11 October 1924. p. 3.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Death of "Don" Kirkham". The Argus (Melbourne) (National Library of Australia). 2 May 1930. p. 8.
  15. ↑ "Cycling and war". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Opperman Wins.". The Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia). 27 September 1924. p. 2.
  17. ↑ "Don Kirkham retires". Daily Telegraph (Launceston) (National Library of Australia). 13 December 1924. p. 5.
  18. ↑ "Cycling". The Sydney Morning Herald (National Library of Australia). 9 May 1930. p. 16.
  19. ↑ "Dandenong Cemetery G - N". Australian Cemetries. Retrieved 24 July 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, October 21, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.