Ski plans changed

Press, 30 July 1980, Page 34

Ski plans changed

Because of a poor weather forecast the Europa F.I.S. series will revert to its original Mount Hutt programme with the first men’s downhill ski race to be held today. A meeting of team captains in Methven last evening decided to forgo an extra day’s training and get on with the actual race today when the weather (a high overcast is expected) should still hold. The two downhill runs are scheduled for 11.30 a.m. and; 12.30 p.m., with the official! opening of the series by Sir Ronald Scott at 1.15 p.m. The ceremony will be televised. Perfect conditions were again enjoyed yesterday by I

the 30 skiers entered for the event and they were given the chance of three timed runs through the 1800 m course.

On every run the world’s second-ranked downhiller, Ken Read (Canada), showed out from the field with times just over 60s. The closest any other racer got to him was on the second run, when the Briton, Konrad Bartelski, was only 0.7 s away.

The other Canadians also figured prominently and the Japanese racer, Hiroyuki Aihara, had consistently good times. Bartelski, after nearly a week in New Zealand, seems rapt. “Great snow, great weather and the course’s!

holding up well,” he said. “Even if I don’t get another day’s ski-ing it’s been worth it.”

Leading (manual) times in the four downhill runs were:— First run.—K. Read (Canada), 61.01, 1; D. Murray (Canada), 62.76. 2; H. Aihara (Japan),'62.B6, 3: C. Kent (Canada), 62.88, 4; K. Bartelski (Britain), 62.92, 5; S. Chiba (Japan), 63.47, 6; D. Price (Australia). 63.71, 7; D. Irwin (Canada), 63.97, 8. Second run. —Read, 61.58. 1; Bartelski, 62.28, 2; N. Morl (Japan), 63.22, 3; Aihara, 63.24, 4; Kent, 63.28. 5; Murray, 63.37, 6; Irwin. 63.99, 7; R. Styan (Canada), 64.04. 8.

Third run.—Read, 61.92. 1; Murray, 63.37, 2; Bartelski, 63.69, 3; Irwin. 63.72, 4; R. McLelsh (Canada), 63.90, 5; Kent. 63.99, 6; Styan, 64.59, 7; Aihara, 64.62, 8.