Top skater in great form

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34044, 7 January 1976, Page 12

Top skater in great form

Karen Treloar won her roller skating gold medal on the road at the world championships last year, but she is just as devastating on the track, as her rivals discovered last evening in the national championships at Canterbury Court. The main speed events last night were for female competitors, and the 18-year-old Canterbury skater responded magnificently as she dashed to victory in the women’s 1000 m final in record time. Miss Treloar improved the old record by l.lsec as she parted company with her two rivals, Gale Harvey (Wellington) and Christine Rowe (Hastings'), over the last 500 m. and won effortlessly by 10m. SECOND RECORD It was her second national record in the space of two days. On Monday she sprinted around the indoor circuit to take o.2sec off the record for the 500 m time trial.

Miss Treloar did not have things all her own way for the first 400 m. Mrs Harvey took advantage of the pole position to beat Miss Treloar into the first bend and held the lead for almost half the race.

But when Miss Treloar managed to sneak through on the inside after coming around a corner on the fifth lap, the title was gift-wrapped for her, especially as Mrs Rowe was unable to pass the determined Wellington skater. If the senior event went its expected way, the intermediate women's 800 m final certainly provided the upset. Last year’s champion, Carolyn Barr (Manuwatu), who was the fastest qualifier from the heats, forced her way past Marie Maxwell (Masterton) early in the race and looked to have the measure of Miss Maxwell and Carol Easton (Levin). GIVEN CLEAR RUN Miss Maxwell and Miss Easton stayed in contact, but did not seem likely to overtake her until the final 100 m when Miss Maxwell attempted to pass Miss Barr on the inside. As the two skaters bumped each other and struggled to maintain their momentum and balance, Miss Easton received a clear run on the inside and swept to victory in a major surprise. The world championship competitor, Gregory Hollows (Manawatu), won his first senior men’s freeskating and singles title, but only after overcoming spirited opposition from Warren Latchford (Wellington).

I Hollows performed his jumps and spins expertly, but LatchI ford was little inferior and he ! deservedly scored more marks than Hollows for his artistic im- | pression. music was | well chosen to suit his routine I and his was an imaginative interpretation Hollows, however, finished ahead on technical merit. FAMILY AFFAIR A brother-and-sister combination. Grant and Jane Dusko 'Gis borne*. took the junior dance pairs title. They gave a «opl<*ticatcd performance, their coordination and foot movements being almost flawless. What was disappointing, how ever, was the discrepancy among the five judges whose marksespecially for the leading pairs—varied by M much M a pout REINSTATED After the sensation on Monday evening when three skaters were disqualified from the senior men’s 5000 m, the championship appeal committee, after deliberating for almost an hour, reinstated Colin Harvey to first place The Wellington skater crossed the line just ahead of Colin Birchall (Masterton) and George Hailes (Hastings). Harvey and Birchall were both disqualified, but after hearing an appeal by Harvey, he was given first place ahead of Hailes and Robert Green (Hawke’s Bay). It was a deserved result for Harvey—who had finished second in the event to Birchall last jear —as he set most of the pace and did not appear the main instiga tor in the jostling that occurred near the end. Results; — Speed Men’s 10,000 m—C. Harvey (Wellington) 1, G P. Hailes (Hastings) 2, R. Green (Hawke’s Bay) 3. Time: 10:18.9. Women’s 1000 m.—K. N. Treloar (Rollerdrome) 1, G Harvey (Wellington) 2, C. Rowe (Hastings) 3. Time: 2:4.8 (record'. Intermediate women’s 800 m — C. Easton (Levin) 1, M Maxwell (Masterton) 2, C. Barr «Manawatu) 3. Time: 1:42.7 Artistic Junior girls’ figures.—M. Simpson <Mt Wellington' 1. L Pennell (Tauranga) 2, L. Scott (Hawkes Bay i 3. Junior dance pairs.—Final Grant and Jane Dusko (Gisborne) 1. Paul and Carolyn Cole (Mt Wellington) 2. John Pelzers and Wendy Wilson (Wanganui) 3. Men’s free skating final.—G Hollows (Manawatui 1. Warren Latchford (Mt Wellington) 2, William Hancock (Hawke's Bay, 3. Men’s sing’ s.—Hollows 1, Latchford 2, Hancock 3 Roller hockey Junior boys’. — Semi-final’.: Papatoetoe 2, Papakura 1; Wanganui 2, Kiwi (Manawatu) 1. Final: Papatoetoe 4, Wanganui 2. Second division. —Kiwi 7, New Plymouth 3; Papatoetoe 2, Te Aroha 1.