SPORT OF CYCLING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 18

SPORT OF CYCLING

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES J. GILLBANKS AND C. GOODER Three clubs, Lynndale, Manukau and Northern, decided their annual championship events last week. From the results of the meetings exceptionally keen competition is anticipated at the provincial championships to be held next Saturday.

In the Lynndale Club's races C. R. Gooder won three titles, while J. H. Gillbanks performed as successfully in the Manukau Club's senior events, Gooder had stronger opposition, as E. L. G. Hughes ran him close in the unpaged kilometre and sprint events and fell when sharing the lead with Gooder in the paced 10 iniles. A strong distance rider, Hughes' retirement reduced interest in the event. Gillbanks' three victories were so outstanding that many failed to see the merit of his efforts. In the 10 miles he actually lapped the rest of the field of nine riders twice before covering the first five miles, and even a delay when he was changing over to another cycle after puncturing did not give the field time to wipe off more than a lap of the deficit. His time of 21m 55s was 7 2-5s faster than Gooder's corresponding figures, while Gillbanks won the kilometre in 1m 17s, against Gooder's time of lm 18s.

The Northern Club's events proved to be between J. W. Partridge and G. H, Cunningham. Partridge won the unpaced title in lm 18 2-os, and also the sprint event, but Cunningham was the winner of the five miles paced title bj r over six lengths. Cunningham kept on the pacer's wheel almost throughout the 17 laps of the big track at Western Springs and left no doubts about his ability as a pace follower. ,J. S. O'Gorman was the best of the Northern Club's juniors, while H. R. Baldwin woo the one mile Lynndale event after completely outclassing the field of five, which included R. E. Clark. Clark won the paced five miles event, but as this was run off before the meeting, Baldwin was not*a competitor. K. W. G. Picknell easily secured the Manukau Club's paced five miles title when he lapped the field.

ATTEMPT ON RECORD C. LAPWOOD'S GOOD EFFORT C. D. Lapwood's attack on R. G. Foubister's hour record was the best attempt yet made on the latter's 1931 figures of 24 miles 1282 yards. Lapwood chose the mid-day period for his ride, whereas Foubister started his attempt just after 8 a.m., when conditions were calm. Lapwood is a member of the Te Awamutu Club, and is 23 years of age. Sturdily built, he has a reputation as a distance rider and was one of the leading road competitors of the Northern Club before he went to Te Awamutu. He did 23 miles 843 yards. E. A. Langridge, of the Manukau Club, intends to make his attempt on the record next Saturday "evening at 6.15 p.m. A noted road rider, Langridge has excellent chances of success if conditions are suitable. He will finish his attempt half an hour before the evening session of the provincial championship meeting commences. Langridge did 25 miles of the Manukau Club's hilly circuit at Avondale South in 66m 16s last season. PROVINCIAL TITLES KEEN INTEREST IN SPRINTS With 14 riders in' the sprint, 11 in the unpaced race and 13 in the ten miles paced event, the senior provincial titles should provide keen competition next Saturday afternoon aud evening. J. H. Gillbanks, R. T. Taylor, C. R. Gooder, J. W. Partridge and J. F. Archer are expected to survive the elimination heats of the sprint. After Taylor's remarkable sprinting last Saturday evening he has the best prospects of ultimate success in the series of sprints. The unpaced kilometre event is very open. Gillbanks has done the best time this season, namely, lm 17s. and last year he won the provincial title in lm 15 4-ss, with C. R. Gooder next in lm 16s. E. L. G. Hughes and J. W. Partridge have both recorded fast times in private trials. The ten miles title was won last year by J. H. Wade from J. F. Archer and C. R. Gooder in 23m 6s. Gillbanks was unable to ride in the event last season and, as he has done the best time for the race this year. 21m 555, he has excellent prospects. J. F. Archer has also shown distinct promise in trial events. The entry of J. Wooller, of Tauranga, is interesting, for Wooller won all three Waikato championship titles last month. H. W. Liddington and C. D. Lapwood, of Te Awamutu, are both capable distancfc men. After his national title wins H. R. Baldwin is expected to win both the half-mile and five miles junior events. His strongest opponents are J. S. O'Gorman, Iv. W. G. Picknell and R. E. Clark. An innovation this year will be the reduction of the sprint distance from JOOO metres to 500 metres. As the latter distance, about 546 yards, is just over a lap of the Western Springs track excellent racing is promised. The teams' championship will also be conducted on different lines. Instead of one rider of the four retiring each lap all four will remain throughout and the time of the third man to cross the line will'" be taken to determine the result. It will be along the lines of the popular teams' races held during past road seasons.