‘Spring Bird’ races

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 40

‘Spring Bird’ races

The emergence of a group of young girls from the Methven Ski Club and a New Zealand A team member acting as a coach w’ere two features of the Mount Hutt “Spring Bird” Trophy slalom races yesterday. In the women’s event the favoured skiers, Fiona Johnson and Mandy Vryenhoek, both dipped out on the second run and this left the way clear for Methven skiers, headed by Joanne Scott, to take the first five places and reap the benefits of training every week-end on the mountain. The men’s event was won well by a 17-year-old Christ-

church skier, Dean Stewart, who recorded the fastest time on both runs (45.18 s and 44.525) through the 50-gate course. Conditions w’ere clear and sunny for the skiers who raced on a hard, smooth course. The giant slalom will be held today. Results — Men’s slalom: D. Stewart, lmin 29.705, 1; D. .Ingram (U.S.), 1:31.61, 2; D. Greer (U.S.), 1:33.30, 3; G. Goodwin, 1:36.63, 4: M. Yeoman. 1:40.37, 5; D. Ransfield, 1:40.66. 6. Women’s slalom: J. Scott, 1:50.38. 1; J. Quigley, 1:55.16, 2; R. Scott, 2:00.49, 3; E. Benseman, 2:04.54, 4; J. O’Hara, 2:11.96, 5; A. Gilroy, 2:12.72, 6.