Skaters may produce record times

Press, 13 July 1985, Page 80

Skaters may produce record times

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

If the inland rain and snow yesterday has not caused havoc with the ice at Lake Ida, the New Zealand outdoor 200 m and 400 m ice skating track championships over the next four days could produce some record times. Organisers who checked the lake on Thursday were delighted with the ice’s fast surface and, although the speed skaters have had little chance to prepare themselves on the outdoor rink this winter, they have had the chance of ice time on the new internationallysized rink in Opawa. Influenza and injuries have reduced entries drastically, but the biggest field for some time will compete in the junior women’s cham-

pionship. Apart from Ans Kremer, of Westland, all the competitors will be from Canterbury. Mark Atkinson and Tony Smith, who shared the national 200 m track championship title last winter, are likely to provide keen racing again for the senior men’s title, although there will be interest in the developing Jon Havenaar who will line-up in the senior grade for the first time. Mike McMillen will be another young skater to attract interest in his first season of senior skating. Two years ago at Lake Middleton, Twizel, he won three intermediate 200 m track races and the aggregate from Havenaar, who was the defending champion. A former New Zealand

representative, Mike Day, completes the senior field. He is very reliable but lacks the sharp speed of Atkinson and Smith. Miss Kremer has been in a class of her own on the outdoor ice since 1971 and she will certainly complete another women’s long-track and short-track double. The promising Katrina McCallum will be fancied in the intermediate grade. The intermediate men’s class should be a two-way battle between Shane Bradford and Robert McCallum, with Adam van Vianen a prospect should the other two slip up. The 200 m track races will be held today and tomorrow, with the 400 m track championships decided on Monday and Tuesday.