ROLLER SKATING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 3

ROLLER SKATING

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS OPENED Five teams took part in the parade o£ competitors at the opening ceremony of the New Zealand amateur roller skating championships at the De Luxe rink. Christchurch, last evening. The teams were Canterbury, Auckland, Whangarei, Rotorua, and Manawatu. A sole Wellington competitor did not take the floor. The president of the New Zealand Roller Skating Association (Mr G. S. Bright) said that the championships were the seventeenth of their kind to be held since the association was founded 18 years ago. Cr. L. P. Christie, representing the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr « il, Macfarlane), declared the championships open. The junior figure skating events were held yesterday afternoon, and the results combined with the free skating results of the evening. The four tiny finalists in the under 10 girls’ section were amazingly adept on their heavy skates, and gave a ve £V attractive performance. The junior gliding and glide-waltz championships were a pleasure to watch, and were much appreciated by the small audience present. The boys’ under 14 free skating was easily the best event of the evening. There was no awkwardness in the routines followed by the two contestants, and they w ?X e jy eU Panned to blend naturally with the music chosen. Last year’s winner, P Homan (Auckland), who retained tiUe - the most polished display of the evening, but his perfectly-executed was no less spectacular than that °* his opponent, J. Benfell (Whangarei). The two speed races at the end of the programme provided plenty of excitement. In the boys half-mile under 16 final, the winner, C. Collins, lapped the last man in the field of three. His time, Imin 57 l-ssec, was more than 15 seconds better than the previous record of 2min 12 3-ssec. The girls’ quarter-mlle under 16 final was even more impressive- The race developed into a contest between two pairs, and was keenly disputed to the end. The winner, Miss M. Marriott, bettered by 10 2-ssec her time last year of Imin Msec. Results were:—

Girls’ solo free'skating (under 10): M. Whittle (Canterbury) 1. B. Cramer (Rotorua) 2, J. Cramer (Rotorua) 3. Junior pairs gilding (under 16): P. Homan and Miss L. Wright (Auckland) 1, B. Wing and Miss G. Toner (Canterbury) 2, R. Keats and Miss B. McCarthy (Canterbury) 3. Junior pairs glide-waltz (under 16): R. Keats and Miss B. McCarthy (Canterbury) 1, P. Homan and Miss L. Wright (Auckland) 2, J. Benfell and Miss J. Hunter (Whangarei) 3. Boys’ solo free skating (under 14): P. Homan (Auckland) 1, J. Benfell (Whangarei) 2. Boys* half-mile speed , final (under 16): C. Collins 1, C. McCobb 2, G. Kinsett 3. Time, Imin 57 l-ssec. Girls* quartermile speed final (under 16): Miss M. Marriott (Manawatu) 1, Miss R. Nixon (Canterbury) 2. Miss B. Cossill (Whangarei) 3. Time, Imin 3 3-ssec.