ROLLER SKATING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27444, 2 September 1954, Page 3

ROLLER SKATING

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUED

HIGH STANDARD ON SECOND NIGHT

The Greymouth team was added to the list of competitors,when the teams took the floor for the grand parade opening the second night of the New Zealand amateur roller skating championships at the De Luxe Rink last evening. The parade was most impressive, and the audience, larger than on the opening night, fully appreciated it. In the girls’ quarter mile under 16 final, Miss M. Marriott dead-heated with Miss R. Nixon, to better last gear’s time of Imin Msec with a time of 63 3-ssec.

The intermediate girls’ and boys’ solo figure skating events were held yesterday afternoon, and the results were incorporated in the free skating events in the evening to fix the places. The first event of the evening was the junior two-step pairs under 16, which were very attractive with the simple dance routine. Those recalled for placing put on an especially pleasing show. The junior girls’ free skating was also very well done and planned, but the girls could not equal the boys’ display in this class on Tuesday evening. Marie Whittle, winner of the New Zealand juvenile under 10 title on the opening night, gave an exhibition after the older girls r class. Enthusiasm and close competition marked all the races of the evening. The first Greymouth competitor to take part in the championship sb far, R. Steel, was in the men’s heats, but failed to take a place: The other two races, the girls’ under 16 and men’s quarter-mile speed finals also provided plenty of excitement and close finishes. The times of both these finals were better than those of last year. Variations of the waltz and tango were the two routines for the junior dance pairs final, the tango' being the most intricate step seen yet In the championships. As some of the contestants had also taken part in the under 10 classes, this section was particularly interesting, because the standard maintained was very high. The results were:—

, Junior Two-step Pairs (under 16).—R. Keats and Miss B. McCarthy (Canterbury) 1, B. Wing and Miss G. Toner (Can. terbury) 2, B. Way and Miss B; Harley (Canterbury) 3. Junior Girls’ Sold. Free Skating (under 14).—Miss L. Weight (Auckland), Miss A. Whittle (Canterbury) 2, Miss B. Cossill (Whangarei) 3. Intermediate Boys’ Quarter-mile Speed (tinder 18).—First- heat: W. McCullough (Auckland) 1, B. Wray (Canterbury) 2. Time. 59 4-ssec. Second heat: B. Espie (Auckland) 1, W. Collins (Canterbury) 2. Time, 59 l-ssec. Junior Dance Pairs, Final. —J. Benfell and Miss J. Hunter (Wellington) 1, P. Homan and Miss L. Wright (Auckland) 2. J. Rustin and Miss K. Wright (Canterbury) 3.

Intermediate Girls* Quarter-mile Speed Final (under 18). —Miss. N. O'Meara (Auckland) I, Miss J. Marriott (Manawatu) 2, Miss G. Toner (Canterbury) 3. Time. 64 Men’s Quarter-mile Speed Final.—F. Wydur (Auckland) 1, M. Wicks (Canterbury) 2. B. Johnson (Canterbury) 3. Time, 58 2-ssec.