Bridget McCallum breaks new ice

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 48

Bridget McCallum breaks new ice

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Bridget McCallum will become New. Zealand’s youngest speed ice skater when she competes with her elder sister, Katrina, against Australia in the Tasman Trophy series in Sydney on September 24. Bridget, aged nine, has been a late addition to the national team which will defend the Tasman Trophy at the Canterbury

rink. Her sister, Katrina, aged 16, will be the senior women’s representative and she will be the junior women’s representative. The New Zealand men’s team comprises the Canterbury pair from the Mainland club, Mike McMillen and Shane Bradford, both of whom competed at World Cup meetings in the United States earlier this year, and Matthew Biggs, from

the Hauraki club in Auckland. Biggs won the senior 1500 m final at the national championships in Christchurch last month. The McCallum sisters, from the Canterbury Alpine Skating Club, were among the records at the New Zealand championships at The Big Apple, Bridget lowering the previous best times in the. sub-junior girls’ 111 m and 222 m events and Katrina

setting new times in the senior 3000 m and the intermediate 222 m and 1500 m finals. Two years ago Katrina McCallum won the Australian junior women’s title in Adelaide and Bridget took the midget grade. Biggs will be racing in the International competition for the fourth time, while McMillen, Bradford and Katrina McCallum will experience their

second Tasman Trophy series. The New Zealand team, which leaves on Saturday, will get a chance to familiarise itself with the Canterbury circuit by conjpeting in the Australian

The New Zealand team, which leaves on Saturday, will get a chance to familiarise itself with the Canterbury circuit by conjpeting in the Australian championships from September 21 to 23. In the 11 previous contests for the Tasman Trophy, Australia has succeeded eight times, with New Zealand winning in 1973, 1984 and last year.