Final Trial For N.Z. Water Skiers

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 17

Final Trial For N.Z. Water Skiers

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, September 2. The New Zealand water ski-ing team to compete in the world championships in Australia next month will be chosen and announced in Rotorua on Saturday. The team will be chosen immediately after the final selection trials at Lake Okareka, near Rotorua, on Saturday morning. New Zealand is allowed to enter a maximum of four men

and two women in the world championships. Water skiers must reach a set qualifying standard before they are allowed to compete in the championships, with the proviso that any skier who qualifies in two events is allowed to ski in the third. So far a number of New Zealanders have qualified In only one event. Only W. Coughey (Auckland) and W. Bullivant (Canterbury) have reached the qualifying standard in more than one event and they are both qualified in all three. Accordingly Bullivant, who now works at Surfers’ Paradise in Australia, and Coughey are almost certain to be selected.

If any other skiers can qualify in two events at Rotorua this week-end, they, too, will probably be added to the team. But if the skiers cannot add a second string to their bow, the selectors will have to consider the worth of sending skiers to the championships when they will be permitted to compete in one event only. Only two women, Misses J. Hole (Waikato) and E. Biggins (Auckland), are in the national training squad, but it is by no means certain that both or either will be sent. Miss Biggins was the only New Zealand competitor in the 1963 world championships in France. The trials on Saturday will be held in conjunction with the annual Rotorua winter slalom event