1941: Skating, Figure And Speed

Although skating is divided into two large divisions (figure and speed) it is a matter of personal opinion as to whether the more graceful phase of the art is more popular than the competitive side, featuring racers who skim over the ice in huge circles. Of the competitions performed with beauty and charm, both men and women skaters share the limelight equally. Competition was keen in 1941 also, as was proven in deciding the men's North American figure skating championship which was decided by a slim mathematical margin — Ralph McCreath, of Toronto, scored 1,575.8 points as against 1,575 points for Eugene Turner, of Los Angeles, winner for 1940. No competition in the history of this biennial event ever had been as keen. The excellent free skating and spectacular jumps of McCreath clinched the crown, during the meet when many Canadians excelled.

In the national championship Turner won the men's singles for the second year in succession, and Miss Jane Vaughn, University of Pennsylvania co-ed, triumphed in the women's competition. Miss Rose Thacker, of Winnipeg, retained her women's North American crown, and Miss Eleanor O'Meara, of Toronto, and McCreath, won the North American pair title.

The national pairs title went to Miss Donna Atwood and Turner, this pair representing the western section of the United States where figure skating has made its greatest strides during the past few seasons. The surprising growth of figure skating is reflected in the increase in the number of professional skating carnivals and ice shows.

An exceptional child skater from New York, Miss Dorothy Goos, won the novice title, and the boy's went to a promising skater from St. Paul, Walter Sablin. William Grimditch, of Philadelphia, won the men's junior championship in the dance event. In one of the largest fields of competitors the national dance event has known, the championship was again won by the accomplished New York pair, Miss Sandy MacDonald and Harold Hartshorne.

The leading speed skater in the United States in 1941 was Ken Bartholomew, of Minneapolis, who took the two most important outdoor championships, the North American and the National, dethroning Leo Freisinger of Chicago, the Olympic champion. The senior women's laurels went to Miss Carmelita Landry, of Fitchburg, Mass. Ted Ellenwood, of Ft. Johnson, N. Y., won the men's Middle and New York State titles, and Miss Virginia Jahn, of Cresskill, N. J., won the women's Middle Atlantic title.