Tabak shines at Timaru

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33113, 2 January 1973, Page 3

Tabak shines at Timaru

In cycling fields that perhaps lacked a little of the class of previous years, T. J. Tabak shone at the South Canterbury Caledonian Sports at Timaru yesterday. Riding in the cash events, off scratch and on one occasion 20 yards behind the normal back mark, Tabak dominated the New Zealand riders. Competing for the second time on the South Canterbury circuit as part of the tour sponsored by Coca-Cola. Tabak demonstrated in his first event that he was achieving

greater track speed, and by the end of the day, no-one could match him for power or speed at the finish. Tabak entered three events and only in the one-mile did he fail ot win. After a lockedtogether sprint, D. Rasmussen was given the first placing ahead of Tabak and D.' Hillary, although it seemed; to many that Tabak had! pushed his machine in front; just on the line. But from that time there: was no holding Tabak. In, the two-mile event he was up with the front of the field at half-way, and with more than a half mile still to ride,, he rode away from the field, and qualified easily for the[ final. In this he had a more' difficult ride, but still brought: the crowd to its feet as he; came swooping four wide to!

ipass Rasmussen and T. Hartbill in the straight. For the Caledonian Wheel race Tabak was placed 20 yards behind the scratch rider, Hillary, but still qualified with ease. In the final, he was up with the field after a mile, with two laps to ride, 'and against his power was : too much for the challenges |of Hillary and Rasmussen. I Tabak will ride again today at Temuka, although before ; Christmas he said he would not ride in cash events-. “I had the wrong impression of what the officials were doing and talking about,” said Tabak. “It seems they were working, not against each other, but just separately. My aim is to get these officials, cash and amateur, working together and producing better racing."