Fruitful time for Centaurus

Press, 25 September 1987, Page 20

Fruitful time for Centaurus

The announcement of Sarah Gorman as winner of the new award for the “most outstanding performance” at the New Zealand ice figure skating championships at the Glenbum Ice Arena in Auckland capped a highly productive three days for

Centaurus club.

Gorman, aged 11, was competing in the prejunior grade for the first time at national level. She was third in the figures, but gave an outstanding exhibition to take the freeskating and the overall title.

Her contribution helped Centaurus (Canterbury) regain the Allchurch Shield from Glenburn (Auckland) as the club gaining the most points at the championships. Experienced observers considered Gorman’s freeskating routine equal to that of more advanced levels. The pint-sized skater included three double jumps, combination jumps and spins in a mature programme. The pre-junior women’s grade was dominated by Centaurus competitors. Ruth Haywood impressed

the young skater and her in winning the figures and was third over all, while Jodie Osborne finished runner-up in both competitions and the aggregate. The only interloper was Jacquelyn Morrison (Alexandra) who took third in the freeskating. It was a fine achievement by Morrison in a field of 13 skaters as contestants from that club have ice for only three months each year on which to train.

The Alexandra club, however, did have success in the pre-junior men’s event. Although the titleholder, Don McLean, won the figures, his club-mate, Kelvin Koops, produced a strong performance to take the freeskating and over-all titles. It was the reverse of their platings at the recent South Island championships.

Anna Smith, the only Christchurch skater in an otherwise all-Auckland entry in the junior women’s grade, was a disappointing sixth in the figures. However, she skated a confident and bold freeskating schedule which won her that title and elevated her to third in the championship.

A well-balanced and controlled showing enabled the Christchurch entrant in the preintermediate women’s championship, Kim Macdonald, something of an upset win in the figures, but a recurring back problem forced her from the competition after she had completed her freeskating short programme. Her withdrawal, on medical advice, allowed young Auckland pair, Sheryl Everson and

Heather Nye, to dispute the title. Everson, who had performed creditably at the recent Australian juvenile championships, gave a fluent freeskating display to take the championship. Rosanna Blong, of Auckland, who had finished third in the figures and sixth over all (from 16) in the Australian senior women’s grade championship in Brisbane recently, won the New Zealand title, but not before she had fended off spirited challenges by the Centaurus pair, the defending champion, Carey Shepherd and Justine Brownlee.

Brownlee took the figures from Blong and Shepherd, but Blong moved ahead after the short programme &f the freeskating in

Brownlee took a nasty fall.

The combined points at this stage had Blong first, Brownlee second, then Shepherd.

All three skaters exhibited flair in their long programmes, but Blong was more accomplished in performing the more difficult elements. She took the section and aggregate ahead of Shepherd and Brownlee.

Entries in the dancing and pairs were disappointing, but the Christchurch couple, Brent McGrath and Sue Harrison, took both titles and added valuable points to the Centaurus club’s Allchurch Shield tally.

An application by Centaurus to hold next year’s national championships at The Big Apple was approved by the New Zealand council.