Montgomery Should Win Speed Skating Title

Press, Issue 31095, 25 June 1966, Page 11

Montgomery Should Win Speed Skating Title

IT Is not often that a sportsman finishes third in a provincial championship and later in the same season turns on a New Zealand title-winning performance, but this was the outstanding achievement of the Christchurch skater, R. J. Montgomery, who gained the national long track aggregate title at his first attempt last year.

This season Montgomery’s ambition is to win both titles. Today he faces the first hurdle when the Canterbury long track championships begin at Lake Ida and it seems very unlikely that he will be beaten.

A completely devoted speed skater, he has done more than 1600 miles road running since last August to help develop stamina. At times he has been running

more than 60 miles a week both on the flat and on the hills—a mileage greater than many top-class track and field competitors. As well as this he has also spent a considerable amount of time on special skates with wheels one behind the other under the watchful eye of his coach, Mr J. H. Havenaar.

However, he has riot had much training on ice. The championships this week-end will be only the third time this year that he has been on the ice. Nevertheless, at his second outing on the ice last week-end he recorded 9min 33sec in a special 5000 metres time trial. This time has only been bettered twice in New Zealand and compares favourably with the national record of 9min Usee held by another

Christchurch skater, R. Falkingham. Unfortunately, Falkingham, who won the Canterbury aggregate title last season, may not be defending his title because of illness. However, he will definitely be contesting the New Zealand championships later in the season.

Another doubtful starter is the women’s Canterbury and New Zealand champion, Miss J. H. Bayne.

On the credit side, a former multiple New Zealand champion, I. B. McDonald, is reported to be making a comeback this season. If he can strike the form he showed a couple of seasons ago he could well provide Montgomery with strong opposition. Entries do not close until this morning.