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Encouraging entry for N.Z. titles

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

An upsurge in interest in speed skating augurs well for the New Zealand outdoor ice racing championships at Wairepo Arm, Twizel, next month. The national events will be held for the first time on the ice arena at Twizel. The 200 m track championships will be held on July 9 and 10, and the 400 m track championships the next week-end. The biggest disappointment for the New Zealand skaters is the almost certain abandonment this year of the annual Tasman Trophy contest against Australia. Although a number of Australians are expected to compete in the 200 m track events, an official test team will not be sent according to information received by

New Zealand administrators. New Zealand has had only one success in the nine years of competition between the two countries — its victory being in the inaugural contest in 1973 — but hopes were high of a bold showing this year on the outdoor ice surface. However, with a contingent from Australia and Auckland competing in the national short-track championships, the racing should not lack excitement. Fourteen entries have been received for the junior men’s grade — the most for many years. The senior men’s cham-

pionship, so long the domain of the country’s most experienced skater, Mark Atkinson, is no longer a foregone conclusion. A veteran of six Tasman Trophy contests, Atkinson, aged 27, faces strong opposition from his Canterbury team-mates, Tim McDonald and the youthful Tony Smith. Last year, the trio provided some of the most exciting racing seen at national championship meeting. Three of the four open and New Zealand senior men’s records were broken and they were shared among the three. Atkinson won the 1000 m, McDonald the 1500 m, and Smith was a brilliant winner of the 3000 m after an enthralling contest. Atkinson had a second success over 500 m, but McDonald’s greater consistency — one first and three seconds — enabled him to share the aggregate with Atkinson. Atkinson, who was troubled by a leg injury last season, is free of injury this winter and also fitter. He realises that he will have to work hard to retain his top ranking, but has started on a high note, winning his mainland club’s championship and also the national Him track championship in Auckland earlier this month. Smith, aged 21, has made a dedicated effort to improve his skating. At the start of the year, he spent two months in Australia training with the Australian team which went to the world championships.

He was only a stride behind Atkinson in two of the senior men’s races at the national 111 m track championships, finished third over 1500 m, but fell and lost his chance in the 500 m final. Smith’s rangy build and long stride should be better suited to the outdoor arena than the smaller indoor rink. The presence of McDonald will ensure that the races are run at a true pace. Speed and stamina, rather than tactical appreciation, become the main essentials for his rivals as McDonald believes in setting a torrid pace from the outset. McDonald is not lacking in either requirement: on his return to Christchurch from Australia, where he made his Tasman Trophy debut last year, he won the New Zealand marathon at his first attempt. A noted skater and national champion from the 19605, Ron Falkingham is likely to compete in the senior men’s grade, although he is eligible for the veteran’s grade, and Southland will have a worthy representative in Wayne Bigwood. The veteran’s competition does not lack top names from the past. Two former New Zealand champions, Bob Montgomery and Jan Havenaar, will be joined by Bruce McCallum, who won the national 111 m championship this month when he skated unopposed. Jon Havenaar, who was unbeaten in seven races when winning both the national short-track and long-track intermediate men’s championships last winter, might not enjoy the same ascendancy although he will be favoured on the outdoor circuits. A Mainland club-mate, Michael McMillen, has the ability to severely test Havenaar, but he is an unknown quantity on outdoor ice. A lanky lad, McMillen displayed good speed and style when finishing ahead of Havenaar in the three events at the national Him track championships. The junior men’s title should prove a Southland benefit. Two Invercargill boys, Craig Hillis and Gerard Stock, are expected to have the measure of the Canterbury pair, Shane Bradford and Robert McCallum. Hillis was unbeaten in the grade at the New Zealand Him track championships and impressed observers with his good technique.

The highly promising Jane Clifford will keep the country’s dominant female skater, Ans Kremer, of Westland, on her mettle. Miss Clifford, who made her Tasman Trophy debut last year, completed a clean sweep of all the senior and intermediate races at the national Him track championships, and Miss Kremer was among the vanquished. However, Miss Kremer is a vastly different proposition on the outdoor surface, although she might still struggle to hold her young rival' over the shorter distances. The big, sweeping strides of Miss Kremer, who holds the national records in most events, are much more effective on the larger tracks. Miss Clifford should have no trouble in winning the intermediate title, although there will be interest in the advancement of Katrina McCallum, the national junior long-track champion. She is still a junior but intends racing in both grades.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830629.2.119

Bibliographic details

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 23

Word Count
902

Encouraging entry for N.Z. titles Press, 29 June 1983, Page 23

Encouraging entry for N.Z. titles Press, 29 June 1983, Page 23