Water skiers on trial

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32234, 28 February 1970, Page 9

Water skiers on trial

COMPETITORS taking part in the regional water ski-ing championships at Brooklands this weekend will have their last opportunity to advance their claims before the announcement of the Canterbury team to take part in the New Zealand title series in Rotorua at Easter. The non-availability of Lake Ellesmere as a venue for the regional series has provided officials with some problems and a 7.30 a.m. start today has been made necessary by the tide table at Brooklands. The slalom and tricks sections of the championship will be held today and the jump tomorrow.

Honours in most grades should be fairly evenly distributed; only W. Hoare (sub-junior boys’) and L. McArthur (sub - junior girls’) were unbeaten in their respective sections during the Christchurch club championships two weeks ago. However, in

these grades of waterskiers under 12 years of age, unexpected results often occur and S. Murray and S. Butler might provide Hoare and McArthur, respectively, with reasonably strong challenges. M. Gascoigne, who might threaten the national boys’ (12-16 years) jump record if conditions are favourable, might also have an edge over his strongest rival, G. Walker, in the tricks section of their grade. Walker’s most proficient division is the slalom. The more experienced A. Wagner should win the girls' grade ahead of a first-season competitor, K. Pyne.

A Canterbury representative in the girls’ grade last season, Miss P. Clapshaw will be seeking to add further laurels to her women’s club title, but to do so she will have to rebuff expected strong bids by Miss C. Willetts, a member of last season’s provincial team, Mrs F. Sedgley, who

will be taking part in the slalom and tricks only, and Miss J. Cairney, the jump winner at the club series. A. Coombs, the only entrant with a previous best jump of more than 100 ft. should head the men’s field in that event, but over-all supremacy will probably be disputed by the* Christchurch pair, W. Ruske and N. Ruske, and the Ellesmere representatives, P. Morris and D. Wagner. W. Ruske was the Christchurch club champion on over-all points, but conceded first place in the slalom to N. Ruske. The tussle for the two places in the Canterbury team should be keen.

The national senior men’s champion, B. Murray, will again be favoured to gain most points over-all, although D. Donald, the holder of the senior men’s jump record, and J. Gallagher, the tricks winner at the Christchurch club championships, might be successful in their preferred sections.