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THE Wednesday November II i Skaters rise to the occasion Super Sectionals of Scarborough and Keith Swin dlchurst of Richmond Hill won the Free Dance segment of the Senior Dance competition The crowd reacted warmly to their performance especially so as in their the young pair fell heavily into the boards Undaunted by this mishap Miss Jeffcott and Mr went through with their performance and added a touch of class competition Don Jackson among special spectators By Colin Gibson Herald Sport Editor All the glamour glitter and glory of figure skating was on display this past Thursday Friday Saturday and as Georgetown a Gordon Memorial Anna hosted the Central Ontario Regional Sectionals One hundred and f two skaters from over centres In the Central Region took part in the four day event that was highlighted on Saturday night by a magnificent display of free style skating from the parable Toller Cran The Sectionals arc regarded as the first and possibly moat important step in a figure skaters career and in effect what Is reflected on the Ice is the result of months and years of hard work on the skater part Success in the Sectionals means a chance to compete at the Divisional level From the Divisional a skater goes on to compete in the Canadian Championships and the next step of course world competition W this In mind and the resultant pressure that builds up It is amazing that the young skaters can do a turn around the ice whirls and jumps notwithstanding Talent and courage came to the fore during he 1976 Sec t Id nab and no one who took in the event went home disap- The four best skaters In the Novice Junior and Senior categories advance to the Divisional to be held at Laval Quebec December to 14 and from there the top three Seniors and four Novices and Juniors may carry on to the Canadian Nationals to be held in London January to 18 Pre Novice skaters do not advance further than the Sectionals but the competition proves of inestimable value In the Pre Novice Ladles event Pamela Thompson of the Upper Canada Skating Club placed first Carol Hume of the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club was second and Diana Rankin also of the S C was third In the Pre Novice Men category Tim White of Barrle was the top skater Shaun of the Credit Valley Club placed second and David of the Toronto Leaside was third In the PreNovlce Dance Dawn White and Kent of Wood bridge were first Tracey Walnman and Dale Thomson of the New and Leaside Clubs placed second and and Keith Miller of the Club came in third The four Novice Ladies who will advance to he Divisional are In order of placing Nancy Buys of the New Club Kelly Johnson of the Upper Cauda Club Michelle Simpson of the Elmvale Club and Patricia Graham of the Richmond Hill Club In the Novice Men category Divisional representatives are order of placing John Union Club Brian Orser Midland Club Jack Frliell Upper Canada Club and Michael Simunek North York Club The Novice Dance winners were Kris Barber of Glen Williams and his partner Patricia Fletcher of Scar borough They skate for the Upper Canada Club Joanne French and John Thomas of the Silver Blades and Wood bridge Club placed second Third place went to Becky and David Dunstan of the Club while fourth spot went to Wendy Birch and Danny Sorley of the Upper Canada Club In the Junior Ladies event the winners in order of finish were Deborah Albright of the CC Vicky Stowe of the C S C C Elizabeth Purtle of the Upper Canada Club and Karen Felcsko of the The Junior Mens winner and the skater who put on the most spectacular free skating display was yearold Vern Taylor of the TCSitCC Second place went to Gary Beacon of the Granite Third place went to Peter Mellon of the club and fourth place went to Michael Shinniman of the Upper Canada Club The Junior Dance wos won by Kathy Savage and Andy Pluta of the Woodbrldge and Pine Points Clubs while second place went to Lynne Ann Pike and Robert of the and East York Clubs In the Junior Pairs category Judy Sackett and Paul Martini were the only competitor In Senior Ladles Heather Kcmkaren whose skating was topped only by the Junior Mens winner Vera Taylor placed first Heather as well u the second and third place win all for the CS C Judy was second Deborah Albright was third while Angela Watson of the Upper Canada Club placd fourth In the Senior Men category Kenneth Polk of the C S C C was first place went to Robertson of the Granite Club while third place went to Sandy Moore also of the Granite Club The Senior fiance winners were John and Lorna representing the C C while second place went to Jeffcott and Keith Swlndlehurst of the Ilnoer Canada Club In the Senior Pairs event only one couple competed they were MarieEllen Souche and brother Bernard Souche of the Tborotull Club It will be quite some time before Georgetown la once more asked to host the Central Ontario Regional Sectional they are shifted to different sites every year but the Sectionals were a resounding success in all aspects and will no doubt remain in the minds of those who viewed the event for years to come RAVES AND ROSES Toller Cranston drew both on Saturday night at the Gordon Memorial Arena Before the capacity crowd that had eagerly anticipated bis performance all evening Toller performed with his usual brilliant style His ballet like on Ice movements were complemented by figure skating that left the crowd begging for more in fact after his exhibition Cranston returned to the Ice for two encores In his performance he excepted a triple two double axels a double loop lump a flying ait spin a camel spin and a layover camel spin Needless to aside from the enthusiastic crowd his coach Mrs Ellen pictured here with Toller was extremely pleased with his performance Cooperation the key The main attractions during the Central Ontario Regional were quite the figure skaters themselves However for those spectators with a wandering eye celebrities from those on the Ice One very Interested spec tator who admittedly has a soft spot In his heart for Georgetown was the former Canadian and World Mens Singles Champion Donald Jackson Mr Jackson has friends in Georgetown and in fact skated an exhibition during the official opening of Gordon Alcott Memorial Arena Several years ago he performed during the Georgetown Figure Skating Club a carnival In 1061 Don Jackson capped his amateur figure skating career by winning the World Championship in spectacular fashion The championships were held In Prague Czechoslovakia and leading up the the free skating part of the program Mr Jackson found himself slightly back of the front runners He realised that capture the world crown he would have to attempt the near Impossible and In true championship fashion did Just that He successfully completed a triple the first time ever that this maneuver had been performed in actual world class competition and in so doing received seven perfect marks from the Judges No singles skater had ever or has since received such marks Today Mr Jackson is still involved to some extent with actual figure skating and he is in the process of opening up his vn figure skating shop in It will be called Donald Jackson s and will cater strictly lo figure skating This week Mr Jackson will return to the scene of his 1962 triumph as he Journeys to Czechoslovakia perform four exhibitions and par tlcipate in a television program there A true champion and gentleman in every sense Mr Jackson was a most welcome guest at the Gordon arena Mrs Ellen Burka In her capacity was present and her figure skating credentials are Impressive Toller Cranston is her most famous pupil but she has also coached Vol and Sandra Bezec former Canadian Champions and of course her daughter a World Champion in the 1960s Mrs Burka appears to have another champion on her hands in the form of Miss Heather Kemkuren the Senior Ladies Singles Sectional winner Media from the Toronto Star the Globe and Mall CBC TV and Barrle TV were attendance as well as representatives from six Hot ton area newspapers Another famous coach present at the Sectionals was Mr Sheldon Mr Galbralth coached Barbara Ann Scott the IMS Canadian and World Womens Singles Champion as with Mrs it appears that he has another potential champion under his wing He is presently coaching Vem Taylor the Men s Junior Sectional Champion who thrilled the crowd on Sunday with his spectacular free skating exhibition Three Judges who took port In the Sectionals are In emotionally known and they include Dorothy Leo men David Dore and Bill McLaughlin Various other well known figure skating celebrities were in attendance and an ad ditto pinch of glamour was added on Sunday in the form or Miss Toronto Barbara Miss Berczowski is no stronger to skating as she her partner were last year Canadian Senior Dance Champions For all those who attended the Sectionals celebrity or otherwise Georgetown laid out the red carpet and proved the perfect host From the organizational and operational point of view the Central Ontario Regional Sectionals held last week at the Gordon Memorial Arena hove gone better Cooperation was the key word between the various people involved from the Central Ontario Regions executive the Georgetown Figure Skating Club and the the town a recreation department This sentiment was echoed by the heads of the respective groups and because of it Georgetown and the Gordon Alcott Memorial Arena in particular basked in the rosy glow of a job well done Just super tremendous all round effort was how Shirley the Championship Chairman of the Central Ontario Section described the running of the fourday event and In effect this summed ud everyone s feelings Bob Howard the head of the Georgetown Central Ontario Section Committee was equally as pleased and Pat Sheehan the facilities superintendent for the recreation department summed up his impression of the various group par In one word fan The glamour of the Sec attracted spec tators but had it not been for the behind the scenes work both In the months leading up to the event and during the actual four days of skating it Is doubtful that the Sectionals would have been so well received Well received and well handledthey were roughly people crowded Into tbe Gordon Alcott arena during the fourday competition Buses were chartered from and it safe to say that most of southern Ontario was represented and there might even have been a few spectators from our neighbor to the south A Buffalo New York woman called the arena on Friday night requesting Information and tickets She was given the Information but told that tickets could be be guaranteed No one knows if the woman arrived but it la quite possible The snack bar at the arena has never been busier and the counter people along with all the other staff members of the Gordon arena arc to be heartily congratulated on a Job well done Staff workers worked double shifts and even longer during event and their hard work paid off as both the arena itself and the all important Ice surface received very favourable comments from those con cerned The actual running of the Sectionals was to have been a Joint Central Ontario Sectional Committee and Georgetown Figure Skating Club venture but as It turned out people from the Georgetown Figure Skating Club proved so capable that a lot of the Central Ontario Section Committee were able to arrive late and leave early From the parking facilities outside to the inner workings of the arena itself things ran smoothly and all those people involved too numerous to mention deserve a amount of credit for the success of the Sectionals Because of them Georgetown has gained a tremendous amount of stature as a com able to capably host large scale events and in the long run this can serve to benefit the area people Local skaters shine As befits the Importance of such an event the competition at the Central Ontario Regional Sectionals was keen skater competing and while they all performed lo the best of their respective abilities for the moat part our skaters This is not meant as a slight on their abilities rather a reflection of the talent competing in the Sectionals Kris Barber of Glen Williams and his partner Patricia Fletcher of Scarborough Pat was adopted by the Georgetown crowdskated away with first place in the Novice Dance section of the Sectionals The final part of their program performed on Sunday was warmly received by the crowd Leslie Tonna of Georgetown performed well in the Junior Ladles category and finished seventh in a field of skaters Many of those In attendance felt she better mark but as tbe saying Ours Is not to reason why etc Young David Watson of Georgetown finished eighth in the PreNovlce Men but for tbe most part it was Just a case of nerves that proved David a undoing He was aware that he was behind leading up to the free skating part of his program and this pressure plus the fact that be was skating in front of a hometown crowd proved a little too much to bear David Is a very promising young skater and no doubt It Is to be hoped that he too harsh with himself and concentrates on future trials Cindy McGUloway of Acton placed fifth In a field of 12 skaters In the PreNovice Ladles event and saved best for las as she performed a fine free ska ting exhibition on Sunday She la another promising young skater who shows definite talent and who no doubt wlU figure prominently in future Sectionals PAT FLETCHER of Scarborough and Kris Barber of Glen Williams drew cheers from the spectators during the Central Ontario Sectionals whenever they took to the ice As crowd favourites they were under perhaps more pressure than their fellow competitors but they weathered it in style capturing first place in the Novice Dance category And now its time for club competitions The Georgetown Figure Skating Club will be holding its annual Club Competition this coming Monday at the Gordon Memorial Arena The competition la expected to get underway at Competing in the National Karen Sparkes Leslie chard Lena Ellison and Sue Hugo Dlttfach and Tom will compete In too Boys Beginner Free Skate The Juvenile Ladles event will feature Michelle Dlttfach Badge Tests will be Sharon Janet Shepherd Kelly Barber DONALD JACKSON seen here going over the Sectionals program was a most welcome part of Saturday night Central Ontario Regional Sectionals Mr Jackson was the Canadian and World Mens Singles and over the years has contributed considerable time and energy to the development of young skaters From left to ight are Tony Corbctt past president of the Georgetown Figure Skating Club Brian Peart publicity director for Georgetown Centra Ontario Section Committee Ron Snow president of the Georgetown Figure Skating Club Don Jackson and Bob Howard head or Georgetown Central Ontario Section Committee Stone and Debbie Gilbert In the Girls Beginner Free Skate Gail Shanks Kim Thompson Carol Snow Jo AnneScarlc Susan Kelly Kim MacLeod Leah Smeaton Charlene Grummet and Cathy will be taking part The Mixed Dance will sec Lamb and Rod as well as Sandra and Stephen performing In the Ladles event the skaters will be Tracey Carol Lovell Lynn Fisher Janice Snow and Sally Murphy Laura Cyd Sherry and Kirs en will try for Pre Novice Ladles honours The Boys twominute Free Skate will futon Howard Sherry Smeaton will perform in the Girls Interpretative and Cathy Wild and Rente will be skating In the Novice category JOHN DOWDING of Oakvllle and Sectionals Their skating style and personal Wighton of Toronto won the Senior Dance magnetism won over the capacity crowd and event at last week s Central Ontario Regional toy were very popular indeed