STILL IN FORM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20002, 29 July 1939, Page 8

STILL IN FORM

RACE RECORD BROKEN WEST INDIAN RUNNER GISIiORNE VISIT RECALLED Well remembered 1 in Gisborne as the sprinting member of the Trinidad Empire Games athletic team which visited Gisborne two years ago, John Cumberbatch is still 1 well to the fore in athletics in his own country and stands out as one of the greatest sprinters m the Empire. When he compelted in Gisborne Cumberbatch ran the hundred yards in 9 4-sscc. and the 220yds in evens. The Gisborne visit was made after the Empire Games, and Cumberbatch was just striking form. The team manager, Malcolm Joseph, said while in Gisborne that, had Cumberbatch been able to become acclimatised in Australia, be would have defeated the British runner, Cyril Holmes, in the sprints at the Etnpiad in Sydney. At the lore Athletic Club games at Pont of Spain, Trinidad, before a crowd of 10,000 people, Cumberbatch was the star o! the meeting, winning the 100 and. 220yds sprints on the second day of the two-day track meet. Cumberbatch ran the 100yds in 10 l-10sec. and in the 220vds event set a West Indian record when lie covered the furlong in.2l.ssec. Cumberbatch was not hard pressed in the latter event, but went all out to win by 3yds. In .the 100yds he dwelt a little at the start and was last away, but won by 2yds. These times are the more meritorious when it is pointed out that Cumberbatch was suffering from a muscle injury. Lance-Corporal Noel Ashmead, another member of the team which visited Gisborne, was placed second in the long jump.