Bright Prospects For Next Ski Season

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28890, 9 May 1959, Page 5

Bright Prospects For Next Ski Season

tVTTH a selection of racing VV skiers even stronger than that which put Canterbury top in jj c w Zealand last year, competition for places in the province’s representative team this season be at an unusually high level. Besides the host of promising youngsters who will be vying for high provincial honours this season, Canterbury is fortunate to be able to call upon two of Otago’s best skiers who are now living in Christchurch. Competition for places in the Canterbury women’s team this winter will be as hard as for the national team itself; all but two of the last year’s inter-Dominion

women’s team are now in the province. Besides the New Zealand captain last year, Anne Latham, there are Paddy Hall and Cecilia Womersley, both of whom excelled at the last national championships. From Otago comes the best-performed woman in New Zealand ski-ing last season, Patricia Prain, who is now working at the Christchurch Public Hospital as a physiotherapist. Miss Prain, who is the present South Island women’s champion, was second only to the Australian Olympian, Christine Davy, at the interDominion fixture. Newcomer Although Sally Edwardes, a -regular member of Canterbury teams in recent years, is now in Auckland, Canterbury has benefitted at Otago’s expense with Miss Cleonie Shiel, who is studying at Canterbury University. Miss Shiel is a New Zealand

Universities’ representative, and was unlucky to break a leg at the national meeting last year. The men’s events in Canterbury this winter should set an equally high standard. R. S. A. Chaffey, although now living on a farm in Marlborough, seems certain to ski for Canterbury again, and as the inter-Dominion men’s champion has no peer. But challenging Chaffey will be John Willis, who last season rose from mediocrity to brilliance. With youth on his side, plenty of courage and a fine style, Willis is one of Canterbury’s finest bki-ing assets. Others who should be prominent this season are Scott Yates, Malcolm £lich, Wyndham Hamilton, Antony Coberger, John Godfrey and Michael Wynn-Wil-liams. At this stage, Canterbury seems certain to retain its high position in the sport this season, and possibly for several seasons to come.