OLYMPIC TRIALS AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 14

OLYMPIC TRIALS AT AUCKLAND

RESULTS PLEASE SELECTORS (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. March 7. The record-breaking 4000 metres pursuit team of A. Larkins. N. Ritchie. W. Dalton, and B. Kent had only an exhibition ride in the cycling carnival at Western Springs tonight. The strong wind made another attempt on their previous night's time futile. , Commenting on the Olympic trials as a whole—they finished tonight—Mr A. W. Gooder, one of the two Olympic selectors, said that the results had been better than the wildest dreams. To have every senior record better by such margins in six days was a really fine achievement. “The president of the New Zealand Cycling Association (Mr P. N. Robinson) is as enthusiastic as I am about the trials." Mr Gooder said. "As he is the cycling representative on the Olympic council, he can be counted on to present our case forcibly—and for once we will have the figures to prove our claim. "We have been preparing for this since 1951. and we have adequate funds to send a sizeable team away,’* Mr Gooder said. “A probable number will be seven for the track team and perhaps three for the road event.” The figures that have impressed Mr Gooder and his fellow selector. Mr W. Pidwell, are: —1000 metres tandem, llsec (old record. 11.3 sec): 500 metres sprint, 12sec (old record, 12.3 sec): 4000 metres individual pursuit. smin 13sec (old record. sm-in 16.4 sec); 4000 metres teams’ pursuit. 4min 49.8 sec (old record, 4min 58.7 sec).