Water-Ski-ing Impressive Form Shown In National Meeting

Press, Volume C, Issue 29477, 1 April 1961, Page 9

Water-Ski-ing Impressive Form Shown In National Meeting

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 31. A 20-year-old Auckland motor mechanic. R. F. Fulton, put up a brilliant display of ski-ing to win handsomely in the men’s slalom event on the first day of the national water ski championships at Orakei basin yesterday. Magnificent though his victory was, it was only one incident in a day of spectacular water ski-ing which brought cheers of delight and rounds of applause from other competitors and spectators. “We have seen nothing like this siki-ing in New Zealand before,” said the president of the New Zealand Water Ski Association (Mr J. E. Farrelly). "The improvement in the standard throughout the country has been amazing.” One hundred and fifty competitors have come from as far as Christchurch and Nelson for the championships. Others are from Wellington. Wanganui, New Plymouth, Taupo. Rotorua Tirau and the Waikato. The strongest field was in the men's slalom with 50 entries. Miss Lois Potts, of Waiuku, and Miss Faye Willetts, of Christchurch, both aged 15, tied for first place in the junior girls’ trick event. In a re-run for first place Miss Willetts made a flawless run to capture the position by five points. Tomorrow the competitions will continue with the men's trick event, the women's and junior boys’ slaloms and the junior girls', womens’ and men’s jumps. Thursday’s results were:— Junior Boys’ Trick.—J. Hancock (N.Z. Water Ski Club). 430 points, 1; G. Goodhue (N.Z.), 290. 2; G. Leuschke (Auckland Club). 240. 3; N. Potts (Elbow Club). 180, 4; W. Coughey (N.Z.), 150, 5. Junior Girls’ Tricks —F. Willetts /Christchurch), 130, 1; L. Potts (Elbow). 130, 2; S. O'Donnell (Wanagnui), 50. 3; J. Hole (Piarere). 30, 4. Women’s Tricks.—D. Carlton (N.Z.), 205, 1; E. Lester (Auckland). 160, 2; D. Swiggs (Wellington). 155. 3; B. Ewart (Rotorua). 80. 4; H. Nicol (Karapiro), 50. 5.

Junior Girls’ Slalom.—L. Potts (Elbow) 19, 1; F. Willetts (Christchurch) 6. 2; N. Thompson (Auckland). 5,3; N. Potts (Elbow). 4,4; J. Hole (Piarere), 4, 5. Men’s Slalom. —R. Fulton (N.Z.), 52, 1; J. Ward (Rotorua), 45, 2; K. Leuschke (Auckland), 37, 3; G. Pettit (N.Z.), 37, 4; W. Prisk (Christchurch), B. Douglas (Auckland), R. McAlpine (Auckland), 35 (equal), 5. Junior Boys’ Jump.—B. Leuschke (Auckland), total 88ft Sin, 1; W. Coughey (N.Z.), 86tt 6in, 2; G. Leuschke (Auckland), 84ft 3; J. Hancock (N.Z.), 83ft, 4; P. Reeve (Piarere), 75ft 6in,