THOUSANDS lined the streets of Evandale last weekend, many in period costume, for the Evandale Village Fair and 40th National Penny Farthing Championships. Parasols, pianolas, carriage rides and country music legend Tania Kernaghan all contributed to the colour and flair of the unique event that saw Evandale businesses bustling as much as the ladies’ long dresses.
Hundreds of cyclists from around the country and a handful from overseas competed in a full program of events, including a relay and an obstacle course, on their high-wheeled machines, which were popular in the 1870s and 1880s.
Canberra bike mechanic Simon Weir beat the best to win the national championship, completing the four laps of the circuit in 3:15.94 and denying NSW’s Simon Fowler a sixth national title. He was also crowned overall “Best Australian” and won the road race held on the Sunday.
Lizanne Fox won a fourth straight women’s title, a great result after her penny farthing was delayed arriving following an airport luggage problem.
Young local rider Ben Cogger of Evandale competed on a penny farthing for the second consecutive year, having started three years ago on a unicycle. The 15-year-old is more familiar with his unicycle and his mountain bike, and said he was lucky to have a family friend loan a penny farthing to him and his brother Tom whenever they felt like competing. He admits he doesn’t train for it, and the hardest thing is getting on, but it didn’t seem to hinder his performance on the day, winning the U16 national championship, coming third in the men’s championship sprint and second in the unicycle Race.