Don Kirkham (cyclist), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetDon Kirkham (cyclist)
Australian bicycle racer
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Lyndhurst, Victoria, Australia
About 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.
- In 1911 he was 2nd and set the fastest time, riding the 131 miles (211 km) in a record time of 6h 19' 31".
- Kirkham's time was not beaten until 1925 by Richard "Fatty" Lamb.
- He had previously finished 5th in 1909.
- and finished outside the top 20 in 1912.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.
- He finished 28th in 1907, 128th in 1908, 18th in 1909, 19th in 1910 and 21st in 1923.
- Kirkham intended to retire after the 1924 Warrnambool, however he was knocked down by a motor car two weeks prior to the race.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.
- Kirkham took up farming during World War I and resumed racing in 1920.
- Kirkham was a successful six-day racer in Australia.
- Kirkham's last race was the Cycle Traders 100 mile in 1924.
- 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.
- He coached Hubert Opperman in his first race.He died on 30 April 1930 in St Arnaud, Victoria.
- He was buried in Dandenong Cemetery.
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