SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23202, 23 November 1938, Page 24

SPORT OF CYCLING

CLUB COMPETITIONS TWO NOTABLE SUCCESSES Most notable of the successes registered in the cycling competitions of the past week were, the winning efforts of J. H. Gillbanks, of the Manukau Club, and R. T. Taylor, of the Papatoetoe Club. Gillbanks, riding from scratch caught the field only just after it had entered the final lap of the Western Springs Stadium track. Commefacing his final sprint entering the home banking he displayed clearly'his fine sprinting powers when he shot round the bunched field to win by three lengths. Gillbanks was sprint and unpaced provincial champion last season and his opening performance indicates that he should again be a strong contender for both titles. Previously recognised as better suited by high gears, he won on a small gear of 82 inches and his time of 2m 2 3-5s was a remarkable pedalling effort on such a ratio. He won his •title events last season on a gear of 102 inches. R. T. Taylor won both the mile and four miles events at the' Papatoetoe track. Taylor has great power and in the mile race he made up most of the handicap on the first lap of the six laps' race. In the four miles he rode off scratch with J. F. Archer and A. J. Mcinnarney, and mutual pacing by the three left no doubt as to the final result. Although Archer challenger Taylor strongly, he had not sufficient pace to extend his opponent fully. Supremo at sprinting over the past two years, Taylor was unable to defend his title last February for he was representing the Dominion at the Empire Games the time of the Auckland provincial meeting. Therefore, his meetings with Gillbanks during the present season are sure to arouse interest. A feature of the evening meeting at Papakura was the appearance of T. E. Crawford, of Hamilton, who is recognised as the best of the Waikato track riders. Unfamiliar with the track he impressed strongly by winning the three miles event and finishing second in the The local scratch rider, H. W. Brown, of Manurewa, won - the mile after possibly the most exciting finish on the track, as only inches separated the pair. Crawford appeared better suited by the longer race for he won from Brown with apparent ease.