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Beverley to Perth Cycle Race

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The Beverley to Perth Cycle Race (also known as The Beverley) is a road bicycle race conducted between Beverley and Perth in Western Australia. Originally called the Rover Road Race[1] it was established by Percy W. Armstrong,[2][3] agent for Rover bicycles. It was run in conjunction with the League of W.A. Wheelmen,[4] and had had vice-regal patronage with the Governor of Western Australia's participation as judge.[5] In early years it had also been known as Armstrong's Road Race[6] and the Dunlop Beverley To Perth.[7]

The 116 mile (170 km) event quickly gained a reputation as one of Australia's longest and toughest cycle races, second only in length to the Warrnambool to Melbourne. There were no races in 1900, 1902, or during the First World War.[8] In 1937 Armstrong protested the change of the route in the 1930s.[9] It reversed direction in 1952.[10]

The race continued regularly after the Second World War,[11] and into the 1970s.[12] The last Beverley to Perth was held in 1999. Each October since 2014 the Beverley Heroic has been run from Beverley. The non-competitive event commemorates the history of the Beverly and, in the style of L'Eroica, riders are encouraged to ride pre-1987 bicycles. 2016 saw the return of competitive racing to Beverley with the Beverley Classic added to the Beverley Heroic weekend.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "CYCLING". The Inquirer and Commercial News. Western Australia. 1 October 1897. p. 5. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "The Late P. W . Armstrong". Midlands Advocate. Western Australia. 18 September 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Personal History: Percy Armstrong". WA Historical Cycle Club. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  4. ^ "CYCLING". Western Mail. Western Australia. 28 September 1901. p. 57. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "CYCLING". The Inquirer and Commercial News. Western Australia. 23 September 1898. p. 5. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "CYCLING". The Inquirer and Commercial News. Western Australia. 23 September 1898. p. 5. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "THE DUNLOP ROAD RACE". The Northam Advertiser. Western Australia. 16 July 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2020 – via Trove.
  8. ^ "Beverley to Perth". The Magpie and Australian. Western Australia. 28 September 1923. p. 8. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  9. ^ "BEVERLEY-PERTH CYCLE RACE". The West Australian. Western Australia. 28 September 1937. p. 9. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  10. ^ "The Beverley to Perth". York Chronicle. Western Australia. 10 July 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  11. ^ "THE BEVERLEY TO PERTH". York Chronicle. Western Australia. 24 September 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  12. ^ "Cyclist wins Beverley-to-Perth for the second time". The Beverley Times. Western Australia. 20 September 1973. p. 1. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via Trove.
  13. ^ "The Beverley - A classic race returns".
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