Close ice skating

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 21

Close ice skating

In one of the most hotly con f tested championships for several) years. Mark Atkinson, the’t rational title-holder, prevailed ini ! 1. mt.ioi men - a ;kicg;'lp at the Canterbury long-track ice s skating championships at Little a Lake Ida at the weekend. • The ice at Little Lake Ida wash excellent for the two-day cham p pionships and Robert Montgomery set a national record in < the senior mens 3UOOm on Satur-1 day. 'I he return to serious competition of Dean Cade and Mont-1 gomery this winter has added a , much needed boost to the senior ‘ speed skating and the 23-year-old Atkinson was sorely tested. ( Atkinson showed his versatility by winning the sprint over ( SHM)m and the longest race over ; s<»oom. hut he was beaten by almost 4s b' Cade over 1500 m ( and was forced into second placing by Montgomery in aj record-run 3000 m. The promising Gary Wilson) was the dominant skater in the! Intermediate men's raves, win- 1 Hing all four by decisive margins, and. in the absence of! Sue Blair and Debbie Cade, the: outstanding Westland competitor.. Ans Kremer, was untroubled to retain her four senior women's 1 titles. Results: —

f Senior men | i 50dm.—M. Atkinson, 47.1. 1. D.j ' Cade. 48.5. 2; R. J. Montgomery, i 49.4, 3. loOOni -Cade. 2:35.0. 1; Atkin-* son. 2:38.9, 2; Montgomery. ,2:40.5, 3. I 3000 m. — Montgomery, 5:22.6' /■N.Z. record). 1; Atkinson, 5:22.7.j 12; Cade, 5:37.3. 3. 5000 m. — Atkinson. 9:35.2, I; ilCade, 9:50.6, 2; Montgomery,) •I 9:55.6, 3. Open 160 m dash. — Atkinson.l 16.5. 1; Cade. 16.9, 2: G. Wilson. . 17.2, 3. ( Aggregate—Atkinson I, Cade . 2, Montgomery 3. i Intermediate men 500m.—Wilston, 49.3, 1; P. Le Comte, 51.7, 2; K. Cooper, 53.9, 3. 1500m.—Wilson, 2:43.3, 1; Le Comte, 2:50.8. 2; R. Bensemann, 3:02.5. 3. 3000m.—Wilson, 5:49.7, 1; Le 'Comte. 6:27.2, 2; Bensemann. I I 6:32.3. 3. ‘I 5000 m. — Wilson, 10.11.0, 1; ' Bensemann, 11:07.2. 2; Le Comte. 1(11:24.4, 3. ; Aggregate. — Wilson 1, Le -I Comte 2, Bensemann 3. Junior men !’! 500 m.—J. Havenaar. 53.4. I. »; 1000m.—Havenaar, 1:56.9. 1. 1500 m—Havenaar. 3:00.7, 1. • Senior women s 500 m.— A. Kremer (Westland), 54.6, 1: K. Evenblv. 65.2 S 2. 1000 m. — Kremer, 1:53.4, 1;

Evenbly, 2:37.2. 2. 1500m.—Kremer. 2:50.8. 1. 3000 m. Kremer. 6:07.2, 1. Aggregate. -Kremer 1. 160 m dabfi.—Kremer. 20.3, I; Evenbly, 20.8. 2; J. Hunt, 32.4, 3. Junior women ■ 500m.—Hunt. 1:19.3. 1. 1000m.—Hunt. 3:10.6, 1. Relays ; Men's 4.400 m. - Centaurus, 12:39.0, 1: Lake Ida. 2:39.1, 2. [Mixed: Lake Ida, 3:20.4. 1.