Montgomery Wins N.Z. Mile Skating Title

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 18

Montgomery Wins N.Z. Mile Skating Title

New Zealand’s lead* ing outdoor speed skater, R. J. Montgomery, provided the major surprise of the New Zealand short track speed and figure skating championships last evening when he beat the favourite, D. Grieve, by less than a yard in the mile. His time, a good one for the tight Centaurus rink, was 3min 47.45ec.

Montgomery and Grieve constantly changed positions at the front of the 11-strong field and the pressure was on right throughout the 16 laps of the Centaurus Ice Rink. Three laps from the finish Grieve edged in front and the race seemed all over. But on

the final lap, only about 70 yards from the finish, Montgomery sprinted furiously to race through on the inside and win the title.

Even more surprising, Montgomery was using his long blade outdoor skates (flats) on the indoor rink for the first time. These, according to the experts, should have slowed him considerably on the comers. Grieve, however, still won the coveted short track aggregate title. Montgomery was ! second and T. Skerten third. Gashed Leg A spectacular crash in the heats cost Miss F. M. McDonald her chances of adding the women’s quarter-mile title to her two New Zealand long track championships. She lost control on the bend and hurtled into the railing surrounding the rink. She regained her feet and managed to finish the race but the 7sec she lost put her out of the final. Later she was taken to the Christchurch Hospital to have a large gash in her leg treated. M. Harris won the intermediate men’s 440 yards final in 53sec—.2sec faster than Grieve in the senior title. In the figure skating the Australians, B. Hewison and Miss E. Sloman, turned on a brilliant display in the New Zealand open pairs championship to score a unique double. They now hold both the Australian and New Zealand open ' titles. Their standard of skat- i ing was considerably higher ; than any of their New Zea- ' land rivals.

In a special display they misjudged a complicated turn

and Miss Sloman cracked her head on the ice. She lay on the Ice for several seconds before her partner was able to help her. Rrwult* were:—

Speed Skating Senior Men'* 440 Yard*.—D Grlev*. 53 2,1; T. Skerten. 54 s, 2; R. Montgomery. 55.5. 3. Intermediate Men's 440 Yard* —M. Harrta, 53. 1: P. McLach Un. M.l, 3: W. Dangerfield. 3 Junior Boys' 440 Yard*.—C Sparrow. 37.1, 1; S. Baird, 37.2,

1 Senior Women'* 440 Yards • First heat: J. Wyatt, M.S, 1: P. . Steven*, 37.3. 2; C. Hawker, s. Second heat: P. Oetgen, 70. 1: F. M. McDonald, 73.1. 2. Fin*. Wyatt, M.». 1; Hawker, 1:7.4, 2. Oetgen. 1:7.3, S. Relay*.—Junior girl*'. 4 x one Up: Centaurus (S. Oetgen. 1> Steven*. A. Whitford. r Oetgen). 57.7. Senior women's 4 I x two lapw: Centauru* (J. Wyatt. . D. White, S. Oetgen. C. WaCker). 2:3.8, 1. Junior boyw* 4 x one lap: Centaurus <S. Baird. W. MaxweN. T. Row*, C. Sparrow). M.S, 1. Senior men's 4 X two laps: Centauru* A <T. Skerten. 1. McDonald, M. Harris, P Grieve), 1:40.g. 1; Centaurua B. 1:45.7, 2: Centaurua C. 1:50. 3 Senior Men's Mile.—R. Mont gotnery, 3:47.4, 1; D. Grieve, 3:47.5, 2: T. Skerten. 3 Intermediate Men's MMe— N Harris. 3:57.4. 1: C. Sparrow. 2; P. McLachlan, 3. Figure Skating Intermediate Dancing —C. Sparrow and Miss J. Wyatt 1. Untermed-iate Men's Free Skating.—W. Maxwell 1. T. Rowe 2. Junior Girls' Free Skating.—V. Gunn 1. S. Weeds 2. A. Brennock 3. Intemediste Pairs—M. Harriott and Miss D. White 1. K. NtehoCte and Miss P. Browne 2. Open Pairs Championship—B Hewison and E. SComan (Australia) 1. L. Coxon and M rs L. Anderson 2. T. Rowe and M„-» S. Rowe 3. New Zealand Pairs Champion ship.—L. Coxon and Miss 1. Anderson 1. T, Rowe and Miss S. Rowe 2. Senior Women's Free Skating. —W. Grafton 1. S Hosiet (Dunedin) 2. L. Anderson 3. Senior Musical Interpretation. —JFIss L. Anderson.