Third gymnastics title

Press, 23 May 1977, Page 6

Third gymnastics title

An Auckland university student, Janice Heale, won her third successive New Zealand rhythmic sportive gymnastic title at Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

After the first two of the four exercises in the women’s international grade on Friday evening Miss Heale had a comfortable lead over her closest rival, Kaye Wilson, also from Auckland.

On Saturday in the final two exercises—the ball and rope—she had consistent performances that were enough to maintain her ‘lead.

The tall, elegant Miss Wilson had to be content with the silver medal for the second successive year, but the best performance on Saturday came from an Otago girl, Robyn Borley, who won the ball exercise.

Miss Borley scored 8.933 for her routine, the highest individual score of the championships, but it was not enough to lift her to a major placing. Joanne Woodall made It a clean sweep for Auckland of the over-all placings. She too gave a very good performance in the ball exercise and was second. I The final exercise—the rope—i was won by Miss Heale and tjjat

.performance clinched the title 'for her. Second in the exercise [was Karen Corlett (Auckland;, •the daughter of Yvette Corlett, the Olympic long jump champion in 1952. The Auckland team in the international grade was particularly strong and thoroughly deserved its success. The strength lies in the coaching of Mrs Emmie Bellwood, who is considered to be the most knowledgeable coach in the country on rhythmic sportive gymnastics. Although it was not as strong [as Auckland in the international • grade, Otago was more than a j match for the northerners in the (younger grades. With the depth 't has . . £ ts younger grades • Otago will be a match for Auckland m the top grade within » Tew years. Abbreviations a e; Canterbury <C.), Auckland (A.), Otago <O> Taranaki (T.). “ International qrade i Ball: R. Borley (6) 8 <m 1- ] Rope: Heale, 8.633, 1; K Cor 8 4M ’ 2; K ' Over-ali: Heale, 34.399. 1- wn. son, 33.432, 2: Woodall. 33.398, 3 Women's B grade i Over-ail; V, Forrester (0.),'

i 24.849, 1; s Donaldson (0.1, 24.099, 2; P. Duncan (C.), 24.083, 3. i Girls' A grade I Ball: B. Clark (O.i, 8.366, 1- D. Maxwell (A.), 8.166. 2; J. Dougherty iO.), 3.0, 3. Rope: Clark, 8.7, 1; K Doughivy 3 OJ ’ 8:i0 ’ 2 ” Douehertv .

Ribbon: Maxwell. 8.30. 1; J. Lindley (O.), 7.966, 2; J. Thomson L„°, rr IAj ' ar,tl L - Whittle (T.), ;.9O (equal) 3. Over all: Clark, 25.032. 1; Maxwell, 24.666. 2; Kindley, 23.999, 3. Junior girls' A grad* < e £ standing: R. Ihompson ;(A.) 330 1; T. Moss (A.). 8X133, 2; S. Martin (T.), 80, 3 Streamer: Thompson, 8.20, 1; • Moss. 8.0, 2; K. Humphries IT.) ;and Martin, 7.433 (equal) 3. ' Rope: Moss, 8.033. i; Thompson, 7.90, 2; M. Phillips (T.), 7.50, ’- L r2X er^ l ’'„ Thompson, 24.40. 1; Moss, 24.066. 2: Phillips, 22.699, 3. Junior girls' B grade <- r Scott (0 -i. 16 2 «. t; S. Lune 'O.l. 16.193. 2 ; Under 11 years n °K* r n I 1: Sokolov (A). 17.30, j Ni.»2? u /5 1 herty ,0 >« 18 - 886 . 2 ; ivisbet (O.), 16.732. 3 !1 °D* r ’T U; j T, ’ o, n™ d *OJ, 28.50,