WINTER SPORTS

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 60

WINTER SPORTS

RUAPEHU SKI-ING CLUB. ' WELLINGTON, August 26. The Ruapehu Ski-ing Club's annualwinter sports were held at TongariroNational Park to-day. The conditions were excellent and there were 250 spec' tators. Following are the results:— Alen’s Langlauf or Cross-country Race, about 7 miles. —Rod Syme (Hawera) 1, R. C. Murie (Wellington) 2, R. Allerr (New Plymouth) 3. Won by 25 yards. There were 10 starters. New Zealand Amateur Langlauf Championship Race. About 7 miles.—Rod Syme (Ruapehu Ski Club) 1, R. C. Mur io (Ruapehu Ski Club) 2, Rigby Allan (Ruapehu Ski Club) 3. Won by five seconds. Also competed (in order of finishing) : F. E. R. Merritt (Auckland University Field and Alpine Club), J. APCommish (Ruapehu Ski Club), A. D, Priestly (Victoria University Tramping Club), T. R. Marks (Ruapehu Ski Club), J. A. Wells (Tararua Tramping Club), R, E. Whitwell (Ruapehu Ski Club), R. Hogg (Victoria University College Tramping Club), C. E. Taylor (Ruapehu Ski Club)., J. W. Palmer (Ruapehu Ski Club), R. Grant (Victoria University College Tramping Club), W. Groombridge (Ruapehu Ski Club), and R. L. Powell (Hutt Valley Tramping Club). Taylor set out at a fast pace and easily led the field for the first up-hill portion and round the flat for the long run down to the Scoria Flat. Syme followed and the remainder were well strung out. Syme overtook Taylor, and Murie passed both Taylor and Syme and was still in the lead at the beginning of the last long uphill portion. Syme, climbing well, passed Murie on the uphill section and got to the top of the last run down about 15 yards in the lead, with Allan somedistance behind, followed by Merritt and APCommish. Fighting hard for first place, Syme won a very closely contested race by the narrow margin of five seconds, with the third competitor ten seconds later. Ladies’ Langlauf or Cross-country Race. About two miles. —H. Knight (Ruapehu Ski Club) 1, E. D. Lovegrove (Ruapehu Ski Club) 2, A. APPhcrson (Tararua Tramping Club) 3. Won by four seconds, with the third competitor one second later. There were ten competitors.

AORANGI SKI CLUB

AT 'STR ALIA N FO OTB ALLER’S FEAT. TIMARU, August 27. The annual sports of the Aorangi Ski Club were commenced at Ball Hut, Mount Cook, to-day in perfect weather and were attended by a large number of enthusiasts from various parts of the Dominion and two or three visitors from other countries. There was keen competition, chief interest being shown in the Cross-country Championship, which was run over a distance of approximately 14 miles, commencing at Darwin corner and finishing at Ball hut. There were 14 aspirants for championship honours, the race resulting:—Tl. Elworthy (British Ski Club) 1, P. Crombie (Timaru) 2, L. Mahan (Timaru) 3. The race was'eontested at a very fast pace, as was evidenced by the time recorded by the winner, namely, 42 minutes. The course was slightly longer than that traversed in the Mount Cock Club’s Championship, which was contested .a few weeks ago and was won by Dr Wood, of the Victoria Ski Club, in 69 minutes. This race was the first of its kind held in the Dominion, so that Elworthy reduced the record by 27 minutes. Crombie crossed the line five minutes behind the winner, Mahan completing tho course a minute later. Three other events were contested, and resulted as follow :— Novice Race (Men). —H. Richter (Germany) 1, A. Simmers (Timaru) 2, J. B. Bibbey (Wellington) 3. Novice Race (Ladies). —Aliss Wilson (Christchurch) 1., Beginners' Race. —C. H. Towers (New South Wales) 1. The winner, who is a member of tho Australian Rugby team, had not previously worn skis and his performance is regarded as a meritorious one. Angnst 28. The sports meeting was concluded today in perfect weather. The Downhill Open Championship was won by H. Elworthy (British Ski Club), with L. Alahan (Timaru) second. The ski jump was also won by Elworthy, with Alahan second, and the placings in the Slalom Race were the same, thus giving Elworthy the championship with nine points, Mahan being second with six points. The Ladies’ Downhill Championship was won by Miss D. MTntosh (Aorangi), with Aliss D. Mackie (Aorangi) second and Miss Wilson third. The Ladies’ Slalom Race was won by Miss O’Rourke (Christchui ffi Winter Sports Club), with Aliss AlTntosh second and Aliss Mackie third. The Ladies’ championship was won by Miss D. MTntosh, with Miss Mackie second. The club championship was won by the Timaru Alpine Club.