Ski cup anniversary

Press, 16 August 1989, Page 34

Ski cup anniversary

There will be an air of nostalgia at Coronet Peak Ski Area next week when New Zealand’s top skiers gather, snow permitting, to compete for the Wigley Cup in its fiftieth anniversary year.

Hunt all had their day with the Wigley Cup. This year the four times winner of the cup, Simon Wi Rutene, and three times winner, Kate Rattray, are among those who confirmed their participation at an early stage. Also expected are Jane Blair, Chris Mosaed, Guy Saxton, Stefan Coberger, Guy Davies, Brendan Boon and Andrew Gooding. First held in 1939, the Wigley Cup was donated by the Wigley brothers, Sir Henry (H.R.) and Sandy (A.G.), who in addition to being the driving forces behind the commercial development of Coronet Peak, were also top New Zealand skiers holding several national titles between them.

The cup represents the oldest teams event on the New Zealand ski-race calendar and bears the names of many who went on to become New Zealand champions, national representatives, and valuable contributors to the development of ski-ing. Corinne Gilkinson, Stan and Garth Lonsdale, Betty Ensor (the first woman guide in the Mount Cook region), Wana Rose, Neil Hamilton, Isabel and Phillippa Kitson, Johny Mills, Charlie Caplin, Peter Wynn-Williams, Anton Coberger and Bill (Wif)

Initially the Wigley Cup was a teams’ event de-

cided on the results of a downhill and slalom race. It was competed for until 1966 (with the exception of the war years of 1940, 1942 and 1943) when it was mislaid and replaced in 1968 by the Coronet Cup (also donated by the Wigley family). In 1983 Lady Wigley donated a second Wigley Cup in memory of her husband, the late Sir Henry. The cup involved a giant slalom race which was part of a four-day meeting also including the Coronet Cup slalom and giant slalom and pro-am. The same year the original Wigley Cup was found and continued to be presented to the club with the lowest total race points for a team of two men and two women in the Wigley Cup giant slalom.

The winners of the Wigley Cup (Interclub Skiing Challenge Cup):Year Winner Team 1939 Southland J. McAuley, W. Crosby, D. Tatton, C. Ryan. 1941 Otago N. Bradley, D. Green, J. Gilkison, C. Gilkison. 1944 Otago J. Swan, N. Joel, C. Nicholson, N. Richards. 1945 Christchurch R. Adams, P. Kitsori, D. Adams, J. Bradshaw. 1946 Aorangi H. Alanson, Alderstein, P. Laylor, J. Young. 1947 Aorangi S. Mclndoe, M. Hill, P. Laylor, J. Young. 1948 Christchurch I. and P. Kitson, C. Caplin, N. Hamilton. 1949 Wakatipu S. and G. Lonsdale, B. Ensor, L. Chance. 1950 Wakatipu S. and G. Lonsdale, B. Ensor, L. Chance. 1951 Southland N. Hamilton, K. and B. Hamilton, L. Challis. 1952 Wakatipu G. Lonsdale, J. Mills, S. Brown, H. Bennett. 1953 Wakatipu W. -Rose, S. Brown, S. Lonsdale, J. Mills. 1955 Wakatipu W. Rose, S. Brown, W. Hunt, B. Graf. 1956 Otago R. Shearer, V. Eliot, M. Sinclair, L. Brown. 1957 Otago University L. Goddard, A. Kirk, C. Shiel, H. McAlum. 1958 Otago University J. Kirk, M. Goddard, C. Shiel, P. Prain. 1959 Christchurch P. Wynn-Williams, A. Coberger, K. Guy, A. Latham. 1960 Wakatipu No names available. 1961 Wakatipu N. Dennis, J. Reid, J. Shield, J. Skinner. 1962 Otago J. Fulton, D. Preston, T. Shield, C. Gilkison. 1963 Wakatipu S. Ryan, R. Greenslade, N. Addison, B. Graf. 1964 Wakatipu G. Chance, B. Graf, K. Chance, S. Ryan. 1965 Wakatipu A. Reid, S. Ryan, B. Graf, R. Leichti. 1966 Otago No names available. 1983 Wakatipu. 1984 Wakatipu 1985 Wakatipu 1986 Wakatipu 1987 Porter Heights 1988 Wakatipu Winners of the Wigley Cup (presented in memory of Sir Henry Wigley):1983: Christine Grant, Markus Hubrich. 1984: Christine Grant, Simon Wi Rutene. 1985: Kate Rattray, Simon Wi Rutene. 1986: Kate Rattray, Simon Wi Rutene. 1987: Kate Rattray, Simon Wi Rutene. 1988: Annelise Coberger, Julian Brown.