Gymnastics treat for capacity crowd

Press, 30 January 1981, Page 4

Gymnastics treat for capacity crowd

, A capacity crowd of nearly 2(XI0 was treated to an absorb|ing night's gymnastics at Cowles 'Stadium last evening. Not so happy were the hundreds more, ’apparently unaware that all the [seating had been presold, who . were turned away at the door. ' The display, which lasted more [than three hours and which covered the full range of apparatus. ; was giien by competitors from I the five countries which contestled the New Zealand Games gym[nasties in Dunedin earlier this , week. It was a display, pure and [simple. No points were awarded, although an enthusiastic, and often discerning, crowd needed no judges’ cards to tell it what was good, what was ordinary, and what, every now and again,) wa s extraordinary. The competitors, too, seemed to enjoy themselves. Some were a little more adventurous than they would have been under the fixed state .of a judging panel anrf If they blued badly there was little or no self-recrimina-'tion; more of an "Oops, sorry [about that,” smile to their gal:lery. ! At the same time there Was some quite outstanding gymnastics, undoubtedly as good as anything previously seen In Christchurch. Each of the four visiting countries — Canada, Japan, the United States and China — had a competitor, or competitors, of exceptional skills and the c-rowdt

g] was quick to recognise them, i-1 One of the first to catch the st eye was the tiny Chinese laas, a Zhang Guxin, -who was no taller .[than the vault she cleared so e spectacularly. aj A succession of othera followed. and if their names were e sometimes tongue twisters, the [language of their bodies was in-. ,'iroduction enough to their finelyv [ honed talents. It was pleasing, too, to find • J the extent of the New Zealand s[ talent. Rowena Davis, on the unieven bars, Greg Robertson, on i I the rings, and Christine Doughs,. , on the beam, were all New Ze'al; landers who more than held their i'own. tl Then there was a little Canter- , I bury girl, Lee Williams by name, , | who tumbled her waj’ Into the crowd's affections during a masa I tumbling display, which Included i some invited locals. i Unfortunately the leading - American woman, Julianne Ale< I Namara. had -already left' fori. ■ home. Her two colleagues, Tracy ■ Talavera and Lisa Zeiss, won many plaudits for their skill and ■ daring, although both girls, possibly in their desire to delight, : did make mistakes. The women’s floor exercise was the hfghpoint of the evening and the performance here of the Canadian, Bonnie Wittineler, was superb. However, Miss Douglas displayed much poise ana charm to he at least on a par with any- of the others.