Hugh Donaldson flies through the air during a trip to the US and Canada. Photo supplied.Ashburton’s waterskiing twins Hugh and George Donaldson have topped off a big few weeks in the US and Canada, by notching up some top scores at tournaments in Florida.

After competing at the under-21 world championships in Edmonton, Canada, the 19-year-olds headed to Florida in the US for 10 days of training with former top Kiwi waterskier Kyle Ede, who was now based in Florida and worked as a coach.

While there they took part in two tournaments, both on Eade’s Ski Fluid ski school site just out of Orlando, and both Hugh and George were keen to put up some good scores, which they did.

The Florida State championships were held last weekend and due to the large number of entries it was a one-round-only tournament.

George slalomed an equal personal best (PB) of four bouys on the 12m line, and both jumped to their PBs.

Then, after a solid week of training on site, they competed in this past weekend’s Polk City Open tournament, where George was thrilled to land his three flips and stand up his A tricks run in both rounds, scoring a best of 4610 points.

Hugh also produced a new jump PB of 54.2m.

Both had been jumping well all week, but a thunderstorm hit late in the tournament, delaying the jump event and eventually causing it to be cancelled, so unfortunately they didn’t get their second opportunity to score.

In Florida they have to get off the water as the lightning strikes often reached the ground.

The training and tournaments during what was the boys’ polytech holidays back in New Zealand, were a great experience and were handy in the lead-up to the worlds in Canada.

But, the experience should instead benefit them in a few weeks’ time when they again head abroad for their next big challenge, the open worlds which are being held in August.

At the under-21 worlds in Canada, George produced the four-strong Kiwi team’s best trick score of 3880, while Hugh produced a jump of 51.2 metres to finish 18th equal overall in the jump.

New Zealand finished 11th overall out of the 22 countries.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 23 July 2019

Chris Morrison, John Morrison & Shirley Crawford. Photo HRNZFormer Mid Canterbury harness racing driver, John Morrison, pictured here with his father, Chris and Shirley Crawford, notched up his 100th career driving success on Sunday at the Rangiora Harness Racing Club meeting.

Morrison brought up the milestone on Only In America, a horse he had won at Ashburton only a week ago.

With a 19-win lead on the national junior drivers’ premiership, the 21-year-old is now certain to become the first driver from Mid Canterbury to win the title.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 22 July 2019

John Morrison prepares to go racing with Nanelle Franco. The pair scored an upset victory in the Morgan Fencing Pace. Photo Heather MackenzieA couple of former locals had plenty to say on their old home track at Sunday’s Ashburton Trotting Club meeting at the Ashburton Racecourse.

Terry Chmiel claimed the major prize of the day, the Winter Cup, with Secret Bet whom he trains alongside wife Glenys.

The three-year-old gelding defied his limited experience by beating a strong field of pacers in the feature event of the day – winning narrowly from a game Ardent Lustre with Kiwis Are Flying.

While Chmiel claimed the feature of the day, it was Johnny Morrison who set the tempo with a driving double, including a bold display on outsider, Nanelle Franco.

New Zealand’s leading junior driver and now a certainty to win the premiership with only a couple of weeks to go, was in sublime form.

Morrison clicked early in the day with the showy chestnut Only In America for Mike De Filippi after finding the front early and then taking a trail.

The big pacer then unleashed down centre track to register win one for the career with style.

Morrison was back in the action a little later on in the programme when Nanelle Franco found the front in the fillies and mares mobile and never looked back, bolting away for a big win in a very fast time.

“She was a bit keen, so I thought I’d let her roll,” he said.

“She just kept going.

“I had a look over the shoulder at the top of the straight and they were a long way back from us and every time I asked her to find a bit she kept going.

“It was pretty impressive really.”

The double took Morrison to 98 career wins, 61 of them coming this season – enhancing his chances of picking up the milestone of 100 before the season is over.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 15 July 2019