1939: Skating

Figure Skating.

Figure skating gained in popularity last year because of the increased number of skating exhibitions by leading professionals and amateurs and the numerous ice carnivals (about 100) staged in the large cities of the United States. Many of these carnivals were promoted for the benefit of charity; yet what was once an ultra-social amateur hobby has developed into a big industry within a few years. That the interest of amateurs in the artistic side of the sport is nation-wide may be seen in the large numbers of socially prominent persons who are members of ice clubs and perform the difficult figures on skates.

For the first time the National Figure Skating Championships moved West, to St. Paul, Minn., and it is a coincidence that both 1939 national singles titles were won by the 1938 titleholders. Robin Lee, who has since entered the professional ranks, and Miss Joan Tozzer, both of Minneapolis, Minn., ascended to the top rung of the ladder in their events. Miss Tozzer and Mr. Bernard Fox won the national pairs championship and the North American Pairs title. The national ice dance title was won by the highly expert team of Miss Sandy MacDonald and Harold Harshorn, both of New York. In the skating unit competition, the North American Fours title was won by the Misses Dorothy and Hazel Caley and Montgomery S. Wilson and Ralph McCreath of Toronto.

In world figure skating competition, Graham Sharp, of England, won the men's title at Budapest, and Miss Megan Taylor captured the women's crown at Prague. The world pairs championship went to the unbeatable combination of Miss Maxie Herber and Ernst Baier, of Germany.

Speed Skating.

Speed Skating honors in the United States during 1939 went to the dashing youngsters of the Mid-West who won over several veterans. The new North American champion is Charles Leighton, of Minneapolis, who finished first in point score in the series of ice races ranging from 440 yards to 5 miles, at Lake Placid, N. Y. Miss Madeline Horn, of Beaver Dam, Wis., won the women's North American title in a series of races from 220 yards to 1 mile, and also adding the Women's National title.

Kenneth Bartholomew, of Minneapolis, topped the other skaters in the competition for the Men's National championship. The Middle Atlantic title events attracted a large field of skaters to Newburgh, N. Y., the home of speed skating in the United States. It was there that the first records were established in the 80's and 90's of the last century, and a few are still to be found on the books. Eddie Schroeder, of Chicago, won the title at Newburgh, and Miss Helen Bahil, of New York, captured the women's Middle Atlantic championship, as well as the New York State skating crown. The women's races are from 220 yards to 1 mile; the winner is decided on a point basis. Tommy Smith, of Utica, N. Y., won the New York State championship.

In collegiate circles speed skating and snow events are gaining many new enthusiasts, with the northern institutions taking the lead. Dartmouth's undergraduates are the best on skates, skis and snowshoes, and always surpass their rivals in their annual ice carnivals at Hanover. N. H.