Womersley Outstanding In National Ski-ing

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 19

Womersley Outstanding In National Ski-ing

(From Our Own Reporter) Q His winning margin more than eight ley, of Canterbury, yesterday showed he beat in the New Zealand ski-ing champions

Womersley’s style in the giant slalom, the first race of three for the over-all championship, was far superior to that of the other racers. Many had difficulties with the icy, bumpy conditions but Womersley dealt with these confidently. M. Gardiner (North Canterbury) who won the Coronet Cup at the week-end and who would have been Womersley’s closest rival, fell yesterday and failed to finish in the first six places. Womersley had two runs yesterday because he gained so much on the previous racers in his first run that there were not enough watches to record the times. T. Stewart (Canterbury) the first male on the course, bad to swerve during his run to avoid a woman who had fallen and he was also given a second run, however his time was good enough for third place only. W. Gardiner (North Canterbury) who was placed second, had an unhappy run losing his balance several times. Start Delayed Snow began to fall an hour before the racing was due to start and continued for 45 minutes. However only minutes before the weather cleared the race committee decided to delay the start an hour and a half. Miss R. Willis (Dunedin) recorded the fastest time in: the women’s event with a runl which would have been among | her best yet. She was almost 2sec ahead of Miss M. Blakely (Auckland) who finished second but was restricted by a thigh injury suffered in the Coronet Cup racing. Miss C. Lowry, who was given a good chance of being among the top three, fell heavily, lost a ski and did not complete the course. Probably the best performance of the day was that of Miss B. John, of Stratford,

who finished third in spite of a fall about half-way. She recovered quickly and finished only 7.4 sec behind Miss Willis. Many of the competitors fell) in the poor conditions and consequently times were well spread. Miss S. Ryan (Queens- , town) one of the top women,! protested about her time! which was almost 20sec slower than the winner’s. It was thought there may have been a discrepancy and the protest will be dealt with by the race committee this morning. It is unlikely there will be any change in the major placings, according to a race official. There were 53 starters yesterday and the course was set by Mr P. Felli, a Swiss instructor at Coronet Peak. Beiultt: Giant Slalom Men: C. Womersley (Canterbury), 1:25.9, 1; W. Gardiner (North Canterbury), 1:34.1, 2; T. Stewart (Canterbury), 1:35.9. 3; J. Armstrong (Wellington),

IUEENSTOWN. t seconds, C. Womerswill be the racer to ihips at Coronet Peak. 1:36.7, 4; J. Rutherford (North Canterbury), 1:40.2, 5; R. Poulston, 1:48.9, 6. Women: Miss R. Willis (Dunedin), 1:36.9, 1; Miss M. Blakelv (Auckland), 1:38.7. 2; Miss B John (Stratford), 1:44.3. 3; Miss S. Willis (Dunedin), 1:51.4. 4; Miss S. Ryan (Queenstown* 1:51.9, 5; Miss M. Chance, 1.56.