On Saturday September the 18th 1897, one week before the inaugural Beverley to Perth Road Race, an unnamed journalist with Perth’s Sunday Chronicle took a train trip to Beverley in WA’s nascent inner wheatbelt. He was accompanied by a riding companion, also unnamed, and a tandem bike. Their intention - to ride and inspect the course of Australia's newest and longest endurance cycle race.

To their surprise the race promoter, Percy Armstrong, and his companions, Hillman and ‘Scotchie’ Wright were also onboard;

“Together we made a very merry party. The time was passed listening to hairbreadth escapes from dingoes and pet lambs by the versatile P.W.A. Up with the lark on Sunday morning, after a hurried examination of machines, we went off on a wild scorch - Armstrong and Wright on a Rover tandem, Hillman on a single, and ourselves on an Acme tandem. The roads were grand and the pace warm.”

How many nicknames does a person need? Born in Kent to Scottish parents John Hendry Wright, aged 7, sailed to Melbourne with his family in 1883. Over time JHW became known as Harry or Scotchie, a nod to his heritage and accent.

Scotchie Wright was a committed and competitive rider from a young age. His 1894 100 mile record for Melbourne to Tallarook and return remains unchallenged to this day. After arriving in Perth in 1895 he joined the WA Cycling Club.

The inaugural Beverley to Perth, arranged by Percy Armstrong, of the Rover Cycling Agency, was contested by 14 riders, Scotchie among them. On race day a large crowd gathered in front of Armstrong's in Hay Street, eagerly devouring the contents of the telegrams which were frequently posted up announcing the performances of the riders as they passed through York, Northam, and Newcastle (now Toodyay).

The race was won by J.W. Beck, brother in law to the race promoter and manager of Armstrong’s Menzies store. Scotchie came a close fourth.

Scotchie never contestd the Beverley again. Six months later he set off for the east coast on his Rover bicycle. He became the third cyclist to cross the Nullarbor Plain, and the first to ride from Fremantle to Adelaide.

Photos courtesy Rob and Pat Wright