SKIING Fall Ends Title Bid Of Coberger

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29931, 19 September 1962, Page 17

SKIING Fall Ends Title Bid Of Coberger

“Th® Press” Special Service

THE CHATEAU, September 18.

A lump of ice ended the bid of the Canterbury skier, A. D. Coberger, to retain hia New Zealand ski-ing championship title on Mount Ruapehu yesterday.

Coberger was travailing at nearly 50 miles an hour when he crashed on the upper section of the downbill course. He crashed onward® and downward® for about 20 yards before coming to a rest. “I think I must have hit a lump of ice," said Coberger, when he flneUy reached the bottom of the course. “When I tried to recovar, I crossed my skis, the mountain wasn’t there any more, and I think my head hit the snow next.” Whole Coberger'® downhill downfall greatly reduced Canterbury's chances of success in the ohasnpionsbipe, and J. Boasted feM at the same spot, there was just cause for joy in the Canterbury camp. R. H. Womersley. of Oxford, chose a magnificent line to finish fourth—a great performance for a 17-year-old—and G. Nevell raced hia finest downhill to finish sixth. instructor Pleased The North Canterbury instructor. Mr R. Wyrsch, said that he was thrilled with the performance of Womersley. He said that only Womersley and the winner of the event, T. G. Huppert, of Wellington, had the style of overseas champion® when they reached high speeds such as 50 miles an hour. "Womendey raced in th® French style," said Wyrsch. "4 was very, pleased with him.” , Made No Mistakes Nevell. who did not complete the giant slalom on Monday, made no mistakes in the downhill. He attacked with considerable nerve, and must have reached 00 miles an hour on the steeper sections. If Coberger’s crash was spectacular. Bristed's was more so. He bounced and landed several times before his bind inn pulled themselves free of his skis, and saved his legs from any damage. The two .winners of yesterday’s giant slalom event furthered their success in the downhill race. Huppert sklled magnificently to take first place. I.7sec ahead of W. F. I. Hunt (Te Kulti). Miss A Latham (Marton) skiied into first place in the women's race with a margin of 4.Ssec ahead of Miss E. A. Keane (Chateau). Snow conditions were icy in the morning, but later in the day the hot sun caused wet com snow, mainly in the lower three-quarters of the course. Higher up there were small

patches of ice. and a strong southerly wind was blowing over the sumnut of Ruapehu at the start of the race. Results were:— Men's Downhill.-T Huppert (Wellington I, 1:30, 1; W. r? I. Hunt (Ts Kuitll, IJ9 7 2: O. A. Clearkin (Auckland). 1:30.9. 3; R. H. Womersley (Canterbury), 1:40.5. 4; M. R. Laird (Auckland). 1:44. 5; G. Nevell (Canterbury), 1:45.1. 0; P. H. WiUis (Auckland). 1:45.0. 7; B. Wigley (South Canterbury). 1:40, 0; M. S Graham (Taumarunul). 1:40J, 9; A. B. Mitchell (Auckland). 1:53.1, 10. Women's Downhill.—R. A. Latham (Marton). 1:10.3. 1: E. A. Kean (Chateau), 1:14.9. 3: P. H. Prain (Palmerston North). 1:26.1, 3: J. Blakely (Auckland), 1:305. 4: E. Wataon (Southland) 1318, 5: A. Welsh (Levin), 1:34.0, 0; M. Blakely (Auckland) 1:30.3, 7; A. Reid (Otago). 1:57.9, 8.