South Island Skiers In Action Today

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 11

South Island Skiers In Action Today

QIX competitors from Otago and seven from Nelson will ski against Canterbury’s leading performers during the South Island ski championships at Temple Basin this week-end. The high standard of skiing in both the men’s and women’s sections should provide a guide to the prospects of Canterbury’s skiers at the national championships at Coronet Peak in a week’s time. Forty-four competitors have entered, consiting of 35 men and nine women. The men’s events have been divided into three groups but the women’s have been left in one seeding. Canterbury’s four leading men skiers at present, R. Womersley, M. Gardner, P. Willis and G. Novell, have entered; all are ski-ing well. Gardner did particularly well to win the Canterbury championship but can hardly rest on his laurels. Nevell and Womersley have both had greater experience in top company while Willis, who was second in the Canterbury championships, showed a further improvement in the Canterbury club championships at Craigieburn Valley last week-end. But the Otago pair, T. Dunlop and P. Hubrich, should provide stern competition. Hubrich, who never seems to be able to take his proper place in New Zealand ski-ing, is probably the most technically proficient skier in the country. Dunlop, who was second in the New Zealand championships in 1963, is a steady and consistent performer. It is a measure of the consistent level of ski-ing in the South Island, and Canterbury in particular, that

many skiers not in the top ranking are quite capable of defeating those who have been more highly considered. There is likely to be little difference between the fifth and fifteenth placegetters. Nine is a disappointingly small number of entrants for the women’s section of

a South Island championship. But these nine are likely to provide a tremendous struggle. Misses R. Arndt and K. Guy have waged some great battles this season. Miss Arndt, who has a much smoother style than the aggresive Miss Guy, won the Canterbury title because of superior consistency, but Miss Guy won the Broken River Trophy and neither can claim to have achieved any superiority at the expense of the other. The two Miss Shiels, Jennifer (Otago) and Patricia (Lincoln), are unlikely to be left out of this struggle for supremacy. Miss J. Shiel won the South Island title last year and Miss P. Shiel was second, so their cha ces can hardly be ignored. Miss P. Shiel has been ski-ing very well this season but, unfortunately, her best runs were for her club so her

good times received nr permanent record. Miss C. Lowry, who was second in the North Island championships two seasons ago, is also a prospect but unfortunately Mrs H. Baudinet, fourth in the Canterbury individuals, has not entered. It is hoped to hold the slaloms in the Bottom Basin on Saturday and the downhill from the Downhill Basin and along the Phipps Run on Sunday. However, should the weather be bad. giant slaloms will be held instead of the downhills. Top rankings, in running order, are:— Men.—R. Womersley (Canterbury), M. Dennis (Canterbury). N. Addison (Nelson), T. Dunlop (Otago), P. Willis (Canterbury) J. Willis (Canterbury), J. Thornton (Canterbury), C. Womersley (Canterbury), M. Gardner (Canterbury), R. Chaffey (Canterbury), P. Hubrich (Otago). Women.—R. Arndt (Canterbury), R. Willis (Canterbury), J. Matthews (Canterbury), C. Lowry (Canterbury), V. Christie (Canterbury), J. Shiel (Otago), J. Shiel (Canterbury), K. Guy (Canterbury), J. Flower (Canterbury).