SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23272, 15 February 1939, Page 20

SPORT OF CYCLING

WAIKATO TITLES WOOLLER'S TRIPLE SUCCESS M. C. BRIDGE ALSO PROMINENT Although the entries for the Waikato cycling championship events held at Tauranga last Saturday were much smaller than anticipated, the standard of riding on the local grass track was most satisfactory. In the senior events J. Wooller, 19-year-old member of the promoting club, was so outstanding that lie won all three titles. His greatest opposition was provided by the Hamilton Club rider M. C. Bridge, who was runner-up in two events, and H. A. Moon, of the Matamata Club. After his consistent performances in competitions throughout the past two years, N. K. Freeman, of the To Puke Club, created no surprise when he won the junior half-mile title. At the Whatawhata sports Jast year Freeman distinguished himself by winning two race when competing against senior riders. Last season Freeman and P. RCoker were very evenly matched and in the mile race last week Coker, a Tauranga Club rider, provided his supporters with a splendid exhibition of sprinting when he disposed of Freeman, who is inclined to commence his final sprint too early. Prevented by rain from holding its annual meeting on Anniversary Day, the Ararimu Club held the postponed meeting on Saturday and a team of riders from the Northern Club competed. In winning two of the three handicaps A. M. Iveith, of the Northern Club, repeated his successes at the •same meeting in 1938. He won the mile off 70 yards, the mile and a-half off 60 yards and was third to J. Partridge, another Northern Club rider, in the two miles. Partridge is one of the club's best grass-track riders.

As a result of his fall the 10miles race at Wanganui last Saturday, M. T. Gamble, of the Mannkau Club, will be unable to compete at the New Zealand track championships to be held at Dunedin next Friday and Saturday. Gamble, was racing in the 10 miles points race and was about to make an effort to sprint from the back of the bunched field when his chain snapped. He fell heavily and did not regain consciousness nntil next day. The event was eventually won by J. Wilson, of Wellington, while M. P. Byrnes, now resident in Wanganui, was second. H. R. Baldwin and C. R. Gooder also competed. Auckland will now be represented at the championships by J. H. Gillbanks, K. T. Taylor and H. R. Baldwin. Baldwin is the only rider who will be defending a title, the junior half-mile. Taylor and Gillbanks have excellent chances of winning at least one title each. G. R. Giles, winner of all three titles last year, is now competing as a professional.