DURRANCE WINS AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 259, 29 July 1937, Page 2

DURRANCE WINS AGAIN

Ski Contests at Mt. Cook AMERICAN’S BRILLIANT DISPLAY By Telegraph—Press Association. The Hermitage, July 28. The American skiers took all before them in the second slalom nice against the New Zealanders in the championships at Mt. Cook. The. course was even more difficult than for the first slalom and averaged 30 to 35 degrees with frozen snow on the steepest part. As in the first slalom, the tings were set to conform with the terrain in the direct line that would ho taken by an experienced man in making a descent. Correct spacing between the flags made for rhythmic travelling from top to bottom. Durranee and S. Bradley were the only two who negotiated the course twice without falling. Lachlan and Macmillan were upset four times on the icy slopes. Durrance, who is only 5 feet 6 inches in height, gave another brilliant performance, giving some confirmation to the saying that when he falls on skis a national holiday is declared in the U.S.A. His was perfect timing and the rhythm of motion. Results :—

Slalom (combined times for two descents).—R. Durrance (America), 2min. 13 3-ssee„ 1; D. Bradley (America), 2 min. 32Jsec., 2; J. Laughlan (America), 3min. 24sec., 3; B. Murphy (New Zealand). 3min. 34 I-ssee., 4; B. McMillan (New Zealand), 3min. 46 2-ssec., 5; H. Wigley (New Zealand), 4min. 21sec., 6. Teams’ times (best three performances of each team) : America 7min. 26 4-ssee.; New Zealand llmin. 41 4-ssec. A violent north-west storm, with rain and snow overnight, prevented the crosscountry events from being held to-day. The Americans,, who left Bali Hut tor the Hermitage this afternoon, expressed, pleasure at the sportsmanlike qualities of the New Zealanders in. all events, especially the jump, in which the New Zealanders, though declaring they had no chance of winning, competed for the fun of the eport. .... The sportsmanship ot the Americans was eulogised at the Hermitage to-night bv Mr. R. L. Wigley, managing director of the Mount Cook Company. Mr. Frank Drewitt. on behalf of the New Zealand Ski Council, also, referred to the sportsmanship of the visitors in making available their knowledge to the New Zealand team for a week prior to the contests. The experience thus gained would be invaluable to the Dominion.