Sportsman’s Notebook STRONG AMERICAN ROLLER SKATING TEAM IN TITLES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28699, 24 September 1958, Page 6

Sportsman’s Notebook STRONG AMERICAN ROLLER SKATING TEAM IN TITLES

A strong team of 14 skaters has been chosen to represent the United States in the world amateur roller skating championships to be held in Christchurch in January. In addition to competing in the championships the team will also give exhibitions throughout the North Island. C. Wahlig, a graduate of Manhattan College, is the outstanding skater in the team. In 1953 Wahlig became the first person l to earn a gold medal in the United States championships for both dancing and speed skating. He also won .the New York marathon title for three successive years. In Christchurch he will take part in the men’s speed events and the dance pairs. The men’s singles champion will be R. Mullican, aged 17, of California. Mullican has had tremendous success in the junior field, with numerous State and national titles. He holds also the gold test medal, which he won in 1953.

Miss Carol Sliger, the 1957 senior women’s champion, will lead the women’s contingent. The team will be managed by Mr W. T. Brown, the president of the world Roller Skating Congress. Two judges, Mr F. Bartik and Miss B. Anselmy, will travel with the team. The team is:—

Men’s singles, R. Mullican: women’s singles. Misses C. Sliger and P. Tipton; dance pairs, C. Wahlig and Miss C. Farrell, L. Parker and Miss M. Clouse; men’s figures, D. Gleen, T. Middleton; women’s figures, Miss C. Benda; freestyle pairs, R. Wollard and Miss C. Stout, K. Trotter and Miss R. Heeseman; men’s speed, Wahlig, J. Drewry; women’s speed, Misses Susan and Sally Richardson. sjs Airborne Referee Mr W. H. Fright, who will referee the charity Rugby maten between the combined newspapers and the police on Sunday, will use an unconventional mode of transport to arrive at the Show Grounds for the match. He will board a helicopter owned by Airwork (N.Z.), Ltd., at Hare wood, and will be flown by the company’s managing director (Mr Charles Brazier) to the ground. He will step out of the helicopter on the half-way line ready to begin the game. ® sjs S Top Skier Christine Douglas, the 24-year-old captain ' of the Australian women’s ski team at present at Mount Ruapehu, is one of the top women skiers in the British Commonwealth. She began skiing when she was 10. Her first major event was the inter-Do-minion contest in 1953. In 1956 she competed in the Winter Olympics at Cortina d’Ampezzo, and although placed low, she showed a great deal of promise. Her experience in international competition has helped her greatly to get the better of the New Zealand women at Mount Ruapehu. sk # * Fencers New Zealand’s three representatives in the men's fencing events at the Empire Games have been in good form since their return. In Auckland B. A. Pickwortn. who was undefeated in the pools

and the final of the A grade foil championship, also won ‘the sabre title. He is the present national champion. The New Zealand sabre champion, R. J. Binning, won the foil and sabre titles at the Wellington championships, and was second in the epee. The other Empire Games representative, P. Temple, was second to Binning in the foil, and won the epee. * * * International Umpires A move to establish an international umpires’ organisation will be made by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Umpires’ Association. This was decided at the annual meeting of the association in Wellington recently, and the proposal will be submitted to affiliated associations. & # « Hockey Team An under 14 hockey team from the Selwyn Hockey Club Will leave Christchurch on Friday evening to play Petone at Wellington on Saturday.