Prayer for frosts

Press, 17 June 1982, Page 27

Prayer for frosts

The long-serving president of the Lake Ida Winter Sports Association, Mr Bert Lyttle, has his fingers crossed that there will be severe inland frosts this winter.

After having its most successful season in 1980, the association experienced the opposite last winter.

Two years ago. Lake Ida missed only one week-end in eight and the whole main lake was frozen to a maximum thickness of 15em.

It enabled the association to repay a $l2OO loan, to spend $l2OO on remetalling the 4km road from the toll gate to the lake, and to build a new room in the’Lodge for the St John's Ambulance Association also St a cost of $l2OO.

However. last season proved disastrous. The season opened on Queen's Birthday week-end with Bcm of ice on the enclosure and 7cm on the rink. -

By the next week-end. all the ice had disappeared and skating was riot possible for seven more weeks.

Even then the season had an early finish and only three days of skating were possible that season. The maximum thickness of ice on the mam lake was 9cm. a far cry.from other years, especially 1957. when the entire lake was covered with ice to a thickness of 34cm. . ; The - revenue from last season's skating amounted to

only $713 compared with $10,895 taken the previous season. Vandalism at the'site had not helped the association gain finance to improve amenities.

Lake Ida had its official opening last Saturday with about 70 skating enthusiasts present. Skating was confined to the enclosure and the small rink, although a layer of ice was over half of the main lake. The ice was of good depth and quality —

Bcm and black. The intention of the association is to use any profit towards the improving of facilities at Lake Ida. Toilet facilities are foremost on the agenda and they will be updated if the skating season provides a source of income for the controlling body. • Officers of the Lake Ida Winter Sports Association are:

Patron. Mi C W Reid: president. Mt A E Lyttle: vice-president. Mr K W C. Nicolle; secretary. Mrs F W Everest: committee. Messrs D. J. Lyttle, A. G. Elliott. A. J. R«ss. B. C. Everest and Mrs J. W. Lvttle.