- Title: UK: AUSTRALIANS WIN DOUBLES CROWN IN WORLD WATER SKI RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
- Date: 17th September 1979
- Summary: 1. GV Men's finals Boat No. 101 W. Ritchie of Australia (overall winner) overtaking on the inside boat No. 5 D. Trezzi of Italy) 0.10 2. GV PAN Boat No. 333 R. Wheeler of Australia (finished first but placed second) rounding buoy on inside. 0.21 3. GV Boat No. 184 W. Rixon of UK 0.30 4. GV No. 333 Wheeler receiving chequered flag at finish rounding buoy and down strait with Wheeler waving 0.53 5. SV Spectators 0.56 6. SV Winner of final Wheeler of Australia was placed second 0.58 7. GV Womens finals Boat 101 B. Wright of Australia buoy and giving thumbs up to driver 1.12 8. GV Boat No. 999 L. Pelton of USA rounding buoy and down strait (came second) 1.28 9. SV Spectators 1.31 10. GV Winner Boat 101 B. Wright rounding buoy and down strait and passing No. 999 1.41 11. CU Spectators 1.44 12. GV Boat 101 B. Wright receives chequered flag and goes down strait (3 shots) 2.03 13. SV Winner B Wright 2.08 Initials dn/ SPORT: WATERSKIING Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd October 1979 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, UK
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA8AUOGSOFGX3HT2PLMOKV9E6S2
- Story Text: Australia won a double crown at London's World Water Ski Racing Championships on Sunday (16 September). Wayne Ritchie and Bronwyn Wright both on a gold medal in the three-round event at the Welsh Harp Reservoir. They proved the fastest and most skilful of the International teams.
SYNOPSIS: The sprints proved to be the decisive race in the championships and Ritchie just could not be ousted from the overall first position. Fellow Australian Wheeler tried his best. He did win the sprints, but several Wheeler dropped out of the first three.
Ritchie faced his toughest opposition from Britain's Billy Rixon. Rixon finished fourth in the two previous rounds, but fell way back in the sprints.
Wheeler's win in the sprints heralded the double triumph for Australia -- the overall placings for the men at the championships: first -- Ritchie of Australia, and the second and third places were taken by two Britons, Billy Rixon and Steve Coe.
The "Thumbs-up" sign comes from Bronwyn Wright. The Australian girl stood out as the competitor who managed the tight inland water circuit best. The Welsh Harp Reservoir fully tests the team's co-ordination, speed and ability to negotiate tight bends and carry out tricky manoeuvres. At the same time, with boast skimming so close together on the restricted water of the reservoir, and travelling at speeds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour (60 mph), a split second loss of concentration by one team member can result in the loss of the world crown.
But these worries did not seem to exist for Bronwyn Wright. When she headed for the chequered flag, she made the Australian triumph complete. Overall second place was won by Britain's Kim Gooding, who five years ago became the youngest British Ladies' Champion at the age of 13.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
