Gabites rolls in first

Press, 30 December 1978, Page 6

Gabites rolls in first

A great roar of approval ! greeted Mark Gabites, of South x Canterbury, a$ he crossed the i line first in the intermediate mens 5000 m track final at Can- t terbury Court last evening. c It was the first New Zealand t roller skating track title won by I rhe 17-year-old Timaru skater. I but it was one that was th or- i oughly deserved. i Gabites, who admitted after . the race that he was concen- j tracing mainly on (he road : events, was the surprise packet of the race. ; He was opposed by several < North Island competitors who i had proved they were swifter ; the previous day in the 500 m time trial. So Gabites—“l wa? • feeling fit enough—adopted the i right tactics. He stayed close to the earl.x I pace and took control with 20 iaps of the 50 lap race remaining. From that point it was a'i case of “catch me if you can.’ No-one could catch the pace-' setting South Canterbury skater and over the last few laps he, was able to slightly increase his '

lead. He completed the 5000 m. without showing any signs of ex- ! I baustion. Without taking any gloss off ; the very fine victory by Gabites. i an incident seven laps from the finish robbed the race of a key i figure. The title-holder, Mark . Urlich (Hastings), obviously real- < ising the threat posed Gab ites» was trying to improve into second position when he received a severe elbowing from Mark Speer (Manawatu i. Speer’s crude action was blatant and left Urlich prostrate on the floor and the only satisfaction that Urlich gained from the race was the fact that Speer, who finished second, was disqualified from the placing*. i Second place was awarded to ' Allan Wilson (Avalon) and Denis Loftus Mt Wellington-, the eai!? pace-maker, was promoted to j third But the honours were with ‘ Gabites alone. If Gabites earned the individual * laurels of the evening, the Ham- • ilton roller hockey team won t'ne plaudits tor a tremendous team< 1 performance, I

Pitted against the forirudar Paparoetoe side. Hamilton played lemarkable team wo and won the encourtei. 16 5 Both teams had equal opportu ties on attack, but Hamilton fin ished its moves superbh where as Papatoetoe. on manx occi sions, found the marshalled Hanilton defence, led b. its ver capable goal-keeper, almost nr pregnable. Results were:— ARTISTIC Junior boys freeskating.—S Signal (Papatoetoe, 1 B Hodf Auckland* 2. B. McLeo ■ Hawke’s Ba Revue " Intermediate men's freeakatmi —D. Hock ''Wellington* I, h Alexander Papatoefoe. 2. SPEED Interemidat e men s 5000m.—.V Gabites South Canterbury A Wi.son Avalon 2. D Iz> 4 tu Mt Wellington) 3. Time: 10:25.8. ROLLER HOCKEY i Division I.—Hamilton 16. Pap; I toetoe 3.