Tense Win In Cycling Trial

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31032, 12 April 1966, Page 3

Tense Win In Cycling Trial

(A’ew Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON. In a desperate finish involving 12 riders, the 23-year-old cyclist, D. R. Thomson, narrowly won the second official Empire (James trial at Kiwitahi, near Morrinsville, yesterday.

Thomson, who represented New Zealand at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, snatched victory in the last few yards from Southland’s A. Ineson and the brilliant 19-year-old T. Tabak (Canterbury).

Then came the first trial winner, R. D. Thomson, L. J. Byers, R. D. Johnstone, N. Robinson and B. Manning, all of Auckland. Three seconds covered the first dozen over the line.

There were few attempts at breakaways during the 120mile race held over 17 laps of the twisting, hilly, 7.1-mile circuit.

At 25 miles. Stephens (Canterbury) broke from the main bunch and just before the 30mile mark was 37 seconds ahead of C. Smith (Waikato) with the main bunch 15 seconds back. Lead Increased But Stephens had been i gathered in by 40 miles, and at this stage Tabak and D. Garrard (Palmerston North) attempted a further breakaway. Between the 40 and 45mile peg they opened up a gap of 35 seconds and in the next five miles increased this to nearly a minute. However, at 56 miles a| group of five caught them on a steep hill just before the main straight. The group consisted of Byers, Robinson, D. R. Thomson, M. Grace (Auckland), and Johnstone. From then on there were always about 16 or 17 in the leading bunch and Tabak afterwards admitted it was hopeless trying to make another solo effort. “They were watching me all the time," he said. Over the final stages, the main bunch was whittled down to 15 and with seven miles to go. Tabak tried desperately to breakaway on the steep hills. At one stage he looked like succeeding but he could not gain any more than 10 yards. Final Sprint In the final 300-yard sprint to the line, Ineson momentarily hit the front with Tabak on his wheel. But Thomson came like lightning down the outside and snatched victory by half a wheel at the flag.

Thomson said he had no worries during the race. This time he had a trouble-fee

I ride after having a puncture 10 miles from the finish in last week’s Wanganui trial. Results.—D. R. Thomson (Wellington). shr 28min ssec, 1; A. Ineson (Southland), 2; T. Tabak (Canterbury), 3; R. iD. Thomson (Auckland), 4; L. J. Byers (Auckland). 5; R. D. Johnstone .Auckland), 6.