R. Montgomery Retains Speed Skating Title

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31108, 11 July 1966, Page 14

R. Montgomery Retains Speed Skating Title

The outstanding 19-year-old Christchurch competitor, R. J. C. Montgomery (Lake Ida Winter Sports Association), comfortably retained his New Zealand long track speed skating aggregate title at Lake Ida yesterday.

Montgomery crashed onto the ice on the first lap of the 10,000-metre race, allowing his perennial rival, R. Falkingham, to get into a substantial lead of 40 yards. However, there was no damage done and he quickly set off after

Falkingham. the present holder of the New Zealand record.

Falkingham was unable to capitalise on this unexpected lead and was caught by Montgomery inside three laps. The pair were level for the next three laps. Then Montgomery made his bid. Falkingham was unable to respond to the challenge and had to be content a« runner-up. An exceptionally strong northwest wind ruled out any chance of a good time. Montgomery recorded 22mln 50.5®ec, and Falkingham 23min 13.5 sec. times that both are capable of bettering by more than 4min. Record Bld Falls Conditions on Saturday were excellent for the 5000-metre championship and Montgomery decided to make an attempt on Falkingham's New Zealand record of 9mln llsec. His coach. Mr J. H. Havenaar, set him a schedule of 44sec laps which would give him a time of 9mln lOsec but he tired over the final laps, missing out on the record by 2.Bsec. Falkingham. competing in another heat, was well below his best. However, he almost lapped the skater he was matched against, T. Skerton, twice, returning 9min 33sec for the distance.

Skerton showed considerable ability in the shorter sprints. He won the 500 metres by a tenth of a second from Montgomery and Falkingham, who both recorded 53.25ec. Later he won the 160 metres straight Impressively from K. Nlcolle in 16.1 sec. The intermediate men's aggregate title went to the present Canterbury champion, P. McLachlan. He won every event on the programme to score 257.243 points. The runnerup was W. Dangerfield, who showed considerable potential. Upset In Relay Lake Ida gained an upset win over Centaurus in the senior men’s relay. The Centaurus team has won the title every year since 1962 and was favourite again. It led for most

of the race but a burst by Mont, gomery on the last leg enab.ed Lake Ida to win by a few yards. Times In the women s events were rather slow, mainly be cause all competitors were uMng figure M.ss F. H. McDonald was the most successful, winning both the 160 metres and 1000 metres Miles. AH competitors in the follow. Ing results are from Canterbury - M.IwH.S , „ Championship Aggregate.-R. J. C. Montgomery (Lake Ida Winter Sports' Association), 235 271 points. 1: R Falkingham (L.1.W.5.A.), 242.075. 2. 160 Metres Straight —T. Skerten. 10.1. 1: K. Nlcolle, 16.8, 2; R. Montgomery. 17 1, 3. 500 Metres.—T. Skerten. 53.1. 1; R. Falkingham and R. J. Montgomery. 53.2 (equal). 2. 1500 Metres.—R. Jery. 2: M.S. 1; R- Falkingham. 3-5.5, 2: T. Skerten. 3:15.8. 3. 5000 Metres —R. Montgomery, 9:13.8, 1: R- Falkingham, 9:33, 2; T. Skerten. 11:18.7. 3. 4 x 400 Metres Relay.—Lake Ida <P. McLachlan. I. Thompson, D. McLachlan. R. J. Montgomery). 2:50.8, 1: Centaurus (T. Skerten, K. Nico Ne. G. Skerten, R. Falkingham). 2:51.2. 2. 10.600 Metres.—R. J. Montgomery. 22:50.5. 1; R. Falkingham. 23:13.5, 2.

Intermediate Men 500 Metres. —P. McLachlan, 55.6, 1; W. Dangerfield, 57.0, 2; C. Sparrow. 62.6. 3. 1500 Metres. —P. McLachlan, 3:11.2, 1: W. Dangerfield, 3:32.8, 2; G. Skerten, 3:46.1, 3. 3000 Metres.—P. McLachlan, 6:24.9, 1: W. Dangerfield, 6:31 3, 2; C. Spartow. 6:48.1, 3. 5000 Metres—P. McLachlan, 12:17.6, 1; W. Dangerfield, 14:34.8. 2. Championship Aggregate.—P. McLachlan. 257.243. 1: W. Dangerfield. 280.629. 2. Junior Man 500 Metres.—G. Skerten, 58.3, 1. Women 160 Metres Straight.—F. H. McDonald, 23.6. 1; D. Walker. 24.8, 2 - 500 Metres.—G. Norton, 1:32 8, I 'looo Metres.—F. H. McDonald. 3:14.6, 1; D. Walker, fell, no time. 2.