The daily sentinel., 1910-08-15
Local Wonder Clips Nearly Twelve Minutes
off Best Previous Time---Many Prizes
for Grand Junction Boys
THE PRIZE WINNERS.

The 18th annual Colorado Midland
| road race was. won yesterday by Rex
| Barber. the king of bicycle riders of
Colorado and the winner Of innumer
y able races large and small which have
occurred since he entered the field
eight years ago. The time which he
set numerically skaters all former
records and lowers the time made by
Buffer of Leadville. which was for
merly the best record Of the thirteen
years and which itself had stood for
seven years.
After having started in the race
for four years, and having for an
equal number of times been unable
to lower the record, he at last ac-
complished the feat upon which he
had set his heart and this morning
definitely announced his retirement
from the track for all time. being
content to let his mark. which he
made yesterday, stand as his chal-
lenge for all corners to break He
lowered the record II minutes and
% seconds, which is almost incon-
y ceivable, considering the gruelling
course, the length of the race and
the hundreds of riders who had pre-
viously attempted to lower the l:11:-
. record even fraction of a second.
: The announcement that the Grand
Junction man is to retire will be re-
ceived with regret by his many
friends in this city; but he has had
a long and brilliant career and has
undergone more straining contests
and strengthening races than any
previous rider in the history of BIZ
cycle riding in this state.
The race was started at H. 80 am.
with twenty entries, representing ev-
cry section of the western slope. Den
yer had two riders, Grand junction
eight riders, Aspen seven riders, and
Clifton, Fruita and Basalt each one.
Glenwood Springs and LeadvilIe had
no champions for the first time in
many years.
The roads We're in splendid shape.
and conditions could not have been
more ideal for the successful culmin-
alton of the big annual athletic con
test than they were.
From the start II was seen that
Barber, Joy, Lee and Watson were
to be the serious contenders for the
time prizes; and. Notwithstanding the
fact that Barber had been a former
winner, there was about an equal
following for each man. JOY of AS
pen was especially strong as a ia
vorite with the spectators Watson,
the Denver man, had never ridden
on the western slope, but he had n
splendid record and reputation in
Denver and was touted by many to
be sure winner Barber had previ-
ously defeated Lee, but he was hard
man to beat, and might be looked up
on to spring surprise at any time
For first place, Chapman of this
city was picked as good bet; and
he doubtless would have won both
first place and second time had he
not broken his chain
Arney of Clifton would have won
a good place prize also but for an
accident to his tire. and he might
have won time prize.
Lee, Watson and Barber We're Civ
en- 4, G. and S-minute penalty, re-
lspecttvely, in addition to their hand
leaps. This was done so that the
riders first released would not secure
so great lead that it would he inn
possible to watch the race from the
train, and yet they would have to
turn miracle to win the place priz-
es
The usual excitement attended the
starting of the race and the race spe-
cial was filled to the guards. Nc
time was lost after the scratch man
had been released before the train
started, as il was anticipated that the
time made would be so low that the
train would not have any time tc
spare; and this proved to be the case
as the train had hardly unloaded its
passengers at Glenwood before some
, of the penalized men were coming in
| 1t took miles of hard riding fol
Barber to overtake Watson and oil
miles more for him to gain any
ground on him.
At the steep hill. known as the Bis
hill, Barber got a cramp in his stom'
ach, and from that time on it wa,
S hard for him to get his breath; but
he finished seemingly as fresh as tn,