Historical information

These cycling medals were awarded to W. S. Toyne. Two of these medals are time medallions relating to the Warrnambool to Melbourne Cycle Race. This race was first held in 1895 and continues to the present day. It was originally a handicap race from Warrnambool to Melbourne but after 1938 it became a Melbourne to Warrnambool race. After 1995 it became a scratch race and today the distance is shorter with the race starting from Avalon. It is the second oldest one-day cycling race in the world and the longest one-day cycling race in Australia. All riders who complete the race in a given time are awarded a Time Medallion. The race was sponsored by the Dunlop company from 1901 to 1927.
In 1923, 123 of the 196 riders, who started at 5:30am completed the 165 mile road race and were awarded the time medallion. W. S. Toyne was listed among the some of the first cyclists to go through Camperdown at 8:16am. It was reported that over 50,000 spectators witnessed the progress of the race.

Significance

These cycling medals belonged to a cyclist, W. S. Toyne, who completed in a significant sporting event in Warrnambool in 1923 and 1924.

Physical description

[.1] Round metal and enamel medal with blue enamel edge and an unidentified white coat of arms with a red cross containing five stars on the obverse side. The shield is held by an embossed kangaroo on the left and an emu on the right. The reverse is inscribed with name and time in an inner circle and the year and race on the outer edge.
[.2] Round metal and enamel medal with blue enamel edge and a white enamel shield containing five stars in the centre of the obverse side. The reverse is inscribed with the name and time in the inner circle and the race name on the outer edge.
[.3] metal and enamel medal with a blue enamel circle with white enamel boomerangs sitting above and below.

Inscriptions & markings

[.1] Obverse: Dunlop Road Race; Reverse: Warrnambool-Melbourne Time Medallion 1924 Won by W. S. Toyne 5 Hrs. 47 Mns. 42 Sds.
[.2] Obverse: Dunlop Road Race 1923; Reverse: Warrnambool-Melbourne Time Medallion; Won by W. S. TOYNE 10 Hrs. 30 Mns. Sds.
[.3] Obverse: Barnet Glass Ballarat-Melbourne Road Race 1923; Reverse W. S. Toyne