TABAK WINNER AT MASTERTON

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31108, 11 July 1966, Page 3

TABAK WINNER AT MASTERTON

(New Zealand Press Association) MASTERTON. The brilliant 20-year-old Christchurch cyclist, T. J. Tabak, and Wellington’s D. R. Thompson, who are to represent New Zealand in cycling events at the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica, took the honours in the Masterton to the top of Rimutaka hill and return race on Saturday.

Riding from the scrtach mark they finished first and second in a gruelling event. Thirty-two riders started in the 54-mile race and 20 of them finished. The cyclists had to slog their way in the teeth of a southerly gale and through blinding rain and flood waters.

i There was surface water [across the road between Car- ; terton and Greytown and at i Featherston, but the winners [completed the return journey in just over two hours and a half. Tabak, who becomes a naturalised New Zealand citizen in a ceremony at Christchurch tomorrow, was home in 2hr 30min 23sec. Thomson finished in 2hr 32min 27sec. There was a battle for third place between B. Bate (Palmerston North) and L. Cooper (Hutt) with Bate getting the decision. He finished in 2hr 35min 40sec, one second ahead of Cooper. It was the first event of its kind arranged by the Masterton Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club.