Speed skaters to race in Australian titles

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 4

Speed skaters to race in Australian titles

(By

R. L. SCHUMACHER)

Three young Canterbury ice skaters, A. W. S. Baird. G. S. Erikson and A. L. Tinga, who trained diligently through the summer, will now feel that their efforts were well worth while. After their polished exhibitions of speed skating and stamina at the Canterbury championships this season, they were selected by the Centaurus club to be its representatives at the Australian speed championships in Melbourne from August 3 to 5. The skaters and their manager-coach, Mr J. R. Dale, leave Christchurch on Wednesday and will have almost a week to become accustomed to the indoor championship track, which is slightly longer and considerably" wider than the Centaurus indoor rink. Plans for the trip were announced last winter and sufficient finance has been raised through raffles, a bottle drive, and a skating trek which realised $4OO. to cover the venture and

leave a little surplus in the overseas funds. It will be the first time a team from New Zealand has competed in the Australian championships and Mr Dale trusts that it will serve as a forerunner for other external visits. “Their times compare reasonably well with the Australian performances over the longer distances, but they might not possess the same basic speed over the sprints. However, I am hopeful that they will perform well in the 1500 and 3000 metres events,” Mr Dale said. But he pointed out that results did not matter. “We are thinking of the future. This trip is maini” for experience.” Br. an 18-year-old service str.Jon attendant, made an immediate impression when he began competitive skating five years ago. As he has progressed to the senior grade, every major Canterbury and New Zealand title fell to him. This winter he gained a notable double, the Canterbury senior short track and long track championships at which he set new

national figures for the 400 metres, 800 metres, 1600 metres and 5000 metres events. His aggregate total for both championships was also a record. This week-end he is attempting to emulate his feat at the provincial championships and complete the New Zealand double. A well-built skater, he can muster a sharp turn of speed and has the stamina, which was a little lacking last year, to match. With last year’s champion, G. M. Glover (Wellington), unable to defend his titles, Baird will be favoured to succeed. Since graduating to the senior class this winter, Erikson, aged 18, has confirmed his good form of last year when he won the national intermediate short track and long track championships. He finished runner-up to Baird in all races and the aggregate at the provincial short track titles last month. The holder of the mile record at the indoor rink (3min 23sec), Erikson is a consistent. and determined competitor but lacks the incisive sprint of Baird.

Unlike his two companions, Tinga, who will contest the junior titles in Australia, is of slight build. A 16-year-old schoolboy, he started racing in 1969 and the following year won the Centaurus, Canterbury and New Zealand short track championships. Although he had to bow to Erikson in the main intermediate races last year, he captured the Canterbury long track title at Lake Ida earlier this month with a disciplined display of skating. Later that day he outsped his rivals in the open 160 metres straight dash. An elegant skater, Tinga’s good pumping action enables him to cover the ice at deceptive speed.

Mr Dale will be as active as his skaters during the fortnight stay. One of his tasks will be to investigate the possibilities of Australian competitors making a reciprocal visit.

He knows they are keen to send a junior team to the New Zealand championships, but because of the fluctuating condition of the ice at Lake Ida, it is difficult to guarantee them skating.