Don Kirkham (cyclist)

Duncan "Don" Kirkham (23 July 1887 - 30 April 1930) was an Australian racing cyclist. 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.[4][5] In 1911 he was 2nd and set the fastest time, riding the 131 miles (211 km) in a record time of 6h 19' 31".[6] Kirkham's time was not beaten until 1925 by Richard "Fatty" Lamb.[7] He had previously finished 5th in 1909.[8] and finished outside the top 20 in 1912.[9]

Don Kirkham
Personal information
Full nameDuncan Kirkham
Born(1887-07-23)23 July 1887
Lyndhurst, VIC [1]
Died(1930-04-30)30 April 1930 (aged 42)
St Arnaud, Vic [2][3]
Team information
RoleRider

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.[10] He finished 28th in 1907,[11] 128th in 1908,[12] 18th in 1909,[13] 19th in 1910 [14] and 21st in 1923.[15] Kirkham intended to retire after the 1924 Warrnambool, however he was knocked down by a motor car two weeks prior to the race.[16]

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 (40 km) in 60 minutes.[3] Kirkham took up farming during World War I and resumed racing in 1920.[17] Kirkham was a successful six-day racer in Australia.[3] Kirkham's last race was the Cycle Traders 100 mile in 1924.[18] 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.[19] He coached Hubert Opperman in his first race.[3]

He died on 30 April 1930 in St Arnaud, Victoria.[3][20] He was buried in Dandenong Cemetery.[21]

Major results
1910
1st Scone to Newcastle
1st and fastest Goulburn to Sydney Classic [4]
1911
2nd and fastest Goulburn to Sydney Classic [6]
1913
1st in Melbourne, Six Days
1914
17th general classification Tour de France
9th Milan - Sanremo
1922
2nd fastest Warrnambool to Melbourne Classic [10]
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References
  1. Event registration number 18874 (1887) Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria
  2. Event registration number 7434 (1930) Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria
  3. "Death of "Don" Kirkham". The Argus (Melbourne). National Library of Australia. 2 May 1930. p. 8.
  4. "Goulburn to Sydney—Victorian riders score". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 21 September 1910. p. 9.
  5. Fry, Craig. "The end of the Goulburn to Sydney Cycling Classic?". Cycling Tips, September 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  6. "Goulburn to Sydney road race". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 27 September 1911. p. 10.
  7. "Sensational Finish in Road Race". Sydney Sportsman. Surry Hills, NSW: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1925. p. 8.
  8. "Goulburn to Sydney". The Referee. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1909. p. 9.
  9. "Dunlop Road Race". The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW: National Library of Australia. 16 September 1912. p. 5.
  10. "New Zealand riders triumph in Warrnambool race". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 14 October 1922. p. 2.
  11. "Dunlop Road Race M. B. Dobie wins". The Argus (Melbourne). National Library of Australia. 30 September 1907. p. 6.
  12. "Dunlop Road Race won by J.T. Donohue, NSW". The Argus (Melbourne). National Library of Australia. 5 October 1908. p. 8.
  13. "Dunlop Road Race W.E. Knaggs the winner". The Argus (Melbourne). National Library of Australia. 4 October 1909. p. 8.
  14. "Dunlop Road Race won by C.A. Piercey". The Argus (Melbourne). National Library of Australia. 3 October 1910. p. 5.
  15. "P. Wells wins Warrnambool road race today". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 27 October 1923. p. 3.
  16. "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.
  17. "Cycling and war". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  18. "Opperman Wins". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 27 September 1924. p. 2.
  19. "Don Kirkham retires". Daily Telegraph (Launceston). National Library of Australia. 13 December 1924. p. 5.
  20. "Cycling". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 9 May 1930. p. 16.
  21. "Dandenong Cemetery G - N". Australian Cemetries. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
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