Upsurge in interest augurs well for speed skating

Press, 17 June 1982, Page 27

Upsurge in interest augurs well for speed skating

After being on the decline for several seasons, speed skating in New Zealand has had a resurgence. More than 40 skaters competed recently in the New Zealand llrh championships in Invercargill and, for the first time, there was at least one competitor in every grade. Another first for the sport this season has been the formation of a separate speed skating body. Previously both speed skating and figure skating have been controlled by the New Zealand Ice Skating Association and in recent, years there has been growing dissension between the rival factions.

In Invercargill, the Ice Racing Federation of New Zealand was formed and its purpose will be to foster and promote speed skating. It will apply to the Internationa] Skating Union for affiliation.

The ranks of speed skaters had thinned so dramatically in recent seasons that no New Zealand team was sent to Australia in 1980 to challenge for the Tasman Trophy.

Last season, Australia sent a team to New Zealand, but internal conflict between some of the country's top skaters and officials resulted in the skaters involved making themselves unavailable and New Zealand was left with a sub-standard team.

The Tasman Trophy was inaugurated in 1973, the. first series being held in New

Zealand at Lake Ida. That year brought New Zealand its only success. Australia having taken the honours, usually easily, on the last seven ’occasions.

This winter. New Zealand will be represented by a team in Australia consisting of four senior men, two women and two junior men. After the national 111 m championships a preliminary selection for a New Zealand squad was named. It is:

Senior men—'Mark Atkinson, Tony Smith, Tim McDonald (Canterbury): Ken Howie. Barry Kereama (Southland); Ross Jensen. Malcolm Biggs (Auckland).

Junior men — Jens Jensen. Darren Graham. Jerard Stock, Craig Hillis (Southland); Mike McMillen. Jon Havenaar (Canterbury): A. Philp (Auckland). Women.— Jane Clifford. Julienne Richardson (Canterbury): Ans Kremer (Westland); V. Taylor (Auckland). Before the Tasman Trophy series is contested, the New ■Zealand team will compete in the Australian championships in Adelaide from August 4 to 6. As well as the national team competing in the Australian championships, a team from the Mainland club in Christchurch will also be taking part.

The Australian championships might well develop into one of the biggest international meetings held in Australia. Invitations have been sent to the Netherlands. Japan. Canada, the United States and England. Atkinson, five times a New Zealand representative against Australia, remains the country's leading skater. At Invercargill, the lean Mainland skater won the four senior men’s events and set two New Zealand and one open record in the process. Atkinson, aged 26. has been the country's dominant male skater since 1977 and has had suffered few defeats in New

Zealand small-track, shorttrack and long-track championships. Indoors or on the outdoor lakes at Manorburn Dam and Lake Ida. Atkinson, the 1980 New Zealand "skater of the year" has shown a fine combination of speed and stamina.

This season. Atkinson has been given little respite by his club-mate. Tony Smith, who actually edged him out in the 1000 m at the Mainland club championships last month. ■ Atkinson reasserted his superiority at the national 111 m championships, but. it was the tall figure of Smith who pushed him hard in three of the four events. Smith finished ahead of Kereama, twice a New Zealand junior representative, in all four races.

Howie, who was runner-up to Atkinson in the longest event, the 3000 m, should be a bigger threat at the national long-track championships on Lake Ida. He is a tenacious skater whose style is more suitable to the roomy outdoor circuit. Jensen and Graham are two very talented intermediate skaters who stood out ontheir home rink at Invercargill. Havenaar should acquit himself well on the outdoor lake and McMillen is improving with every outing. Two Invercargill boys. Stock and Hillis, are exciting prospects in the junior ranks, and Canterbury has an emerging trio in Johnny Gallagher, Robert McCallum and Darryl Woodward.