Successful Uni Snow Games opening for Otago University

Press Release
(for immediate release)

Successful Uni Snow Games opening for Otago University

Sunday 28 August 2011: Otago University had a successful opening day of the Uni Snow Games on the slopes of Treble Cone, taking out two of the four gold medals on offer in the Giant Slalom.

A field of more than 60 competitors were greeted with brilliant conditions for today’s Giant Slalom and Otago University competitors made the most of them, featuring prominently in the placings.

Otago’s Charlotte Newbold, Courtney Tate and Frances Newbold took out the top three placings in the female ski category.

In the male ski section Auckland University’s Stefan Calder took the gold, with Otago University’s Daniel Sampl and Auckland’s Mikael Haysom rounding out the top three.

In the male board section it was another Otago athlete at the fore, with Marc Andri Riedi taking the honours ahead of Rhys Cochrane representing Queenstown Resort College and Auckland University’s Jonathan Arlidge.

Hannah Orchard, of Canterbury University, won the female board category, and Otago University’s Estelle Baker and Deanne Kelly placed second and third.
University Sport New Zealand National Events Manager Peter McDonald said it was great to see such a big field of competitors on the opening day of competition.
“Awesome weather combined with fantastic competition on the slopes made the Giant Slalom a great opening for the Uni Snow Games,” he said.

“It was great to start the week with such a popular event – everyone went really well, we had fantastic weather and great conditions.”

The Uni Snow Games continue tomorrow (Tuesday, August 29) at Cardrona, with the Base-sponsored half pipe and the Gravity X both taking place.

McDonald was expecting both events to be highly competitive and was looking forward to another day of high quality competition.

“It’s great to see the variety of athletes here – some are competing in their first events, others have represented New Zealand, but everyone’s getting on well, competing to a high standard and having a great time,” he said.

Competitors in the Uni Snow Games will compete for overall rankings in each event throughout the week, which contribute to a total campus score. The university with the highest points overall will secure the Michael Forrestal Memorial Shield.

GS Ski:
Male: 1. Stefan Calder – Auckland University (50.68); 2. Daniel Sampl – Otago University (51.06); 3. Mikael Haysom – Auckland University (51.72)
Female: 1. Charlotte Newbold – Otago University (53.01); 2. Courtney Tate – Otago University (53.34); 3. Frances Newbold – Otago University (55.57)
GS Board:
Male: 1. Marc Andri Riedi – Otago University (1.05.00); 2. Rhys Cochrane – Queenstown Resort College (1.07.56); 3. Jonathan Arlidge – Auckland University (1.07.74)
Female: 1. Hannah Orchard – Canterbury University (1.09.00); 2. Estelle Baker – Otago University (1.11.26); Deanne Kelly – Otago University (1.37.15)

ends

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