INTER-DOMINION SKI MEETING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27112, 7 August 1953, Page 10

INTER-DOMINION SKI MEETING

SLALOM EVENTS AT CORONET PEAK

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN WIN; MEN’S TITLE TO N.Z. (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, August 6. The New Zealand men’s ski team won the slalom event in the inter-Domin-ion ski championships, which began at Coronet Peak today. The course, which dropped 600 ft, was intricate, and an unexpected thaw softened the snow and made it sticky, preventing the free-running of .the skis. The Australian women’s team skied well and won the women’s championship slalom title on a course slightly shorter than the men’s.

This is the fifth inter-Dominion championship and the third to be held since the war. The championship is held alternately in Australia and New Zealand.

Mrs C. Ross, captain of the Australian women's team, went into a snow-plough turn at a straight brush during her first run and caught her foot • in one of the control flags. She was called back by a flag watcher to run between the flags, although one foot had actually gone between them as she fell. An appeal to the committee was sustained, and Mrs Ross was allowed a further run. As Mrs Ross finished her second run she fell, badly injuring her right ankle. It is not known whether she win race in the downhill event today.

A long radius turn on an almost sheer slope at the beginning of the men’s course proved too much for several runners. Both the Australian captain (R. Arnott) and the team manager (B. Haslingden) fell there during their first run. Miss Jill Fitzgerald, of Oamaru, who was the first New Zealand runner in the women’s event, caught her right foot in one of the lower flag controls while negotiating a straight flush and lost a ski during her first run.

Miss Annette Johnson, captain of the New Zealand women’s team, established the fastest time with her second run, made in Imin B.lsec. Thirteen-year-old Sally Brown ran consistently in both runs without falling.

The men’s and women’s downhill events tomorrow will complete the ' interDominion championships. Results were:—

Women.—Miss P. Lewis (Australia), 2min 30.1 sec, 1; Miss A. Johnson (New Zealand), 2min 32.1 sec, 2; Mrs C. Ross (Australia), 2min 34.65ec, 3; Miss G. Hall (New Zealand), 2min 36.45ec, 4; Miss S. Brown (New Zealand), 2min 46sec, 5; Miss C. Davy (Australia), 2min 46.75ec, 6. Australia, 100 per cent.; New Zealand, 99.35 per cent.

Men.—G. Day (Australia), 2min 25.1 sec, 1; D. Collman (Australia), 2min 26sec, 2; W. Hunt (New Zealand), 2min 33.45ec, 3; S. S. Lonsdale (New Zealand), 2min. 34.1 sec, 4: D. Dorflinger (New Zealand), 2min 38.3 sec, 5; T. K. McKeon (New Zealand), 2min 43.45ec, 6; R. W. Stokes (New Zealand). 2min 46.35ec, 7; R. Arnott (Australia), 2min 46.55ec, 8; T. Fisch (Australia), 2min 49.8 sec, 9; W. Wolfhagen (Austialia), 3min 6.4 sec. 10. New Zealand, 100 per cent.; Australia, 97.76 per cent.