ICE-SKATING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27442, 31 August 1954, Page 16

ICE-SKATING

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS ; < MEN’S FIGURE SKATING ! TO J. DOWLING i On the first day of the New Zealand , ice skating championships, being held : at the Centaurus road rink, Christchurch, the men’s figure skating was - won by J. Dowling (Centaurus), and the women’s and men’s free skating : by Miss R. Dickson (Canterbury) and K. Stikkelman (Centaurus). Dowling, who is 16 years old, gave a splendid display of figure skating. This is the first time he has entered in the New Zealand championships, but he is well-known as a speed skater, having won the New Zealand junior speed title last year. G. Gillies, third in the figure skating, is regarded as the most improved skater in Canterbury, and was very narrowly beaten by I. McDonald, winner of the waltzing championship last year. Miss Dickson, one of the very few who have passed a silver intermediate figure skating test, was ably partnered by a Dutchman, K. Stikkelman, who had done no skating before he came to New Zealand some months ago. Miss Dickson is the Canterbury women’s champion, and they gave a really first-class performance to beat Miss L. McDonald and I. McDonald, who formerly were the champions. Results were:— Men’s figure skating: J. Dowling (Centaurus) 1. I. McDonald (Centaurus) 2, G. Gillies (Centaurus) 3. Women’s and men’s free skating: Miss R. Dickson (Canterbury) and K. Stikkelman (Centaurus) 1, Miss L. McDonald and I. McDonald (Centaurus) 2, Miss C. Adie and J. Little (Mount Harper) 3.