WENDY JONES OF USA SKATING; HAEFNER AND HAUSS OF WEST GERMAN SKATING (NATSOF).




Initials PK/V/CT/ES


SPORT: ICE SKATING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ICE SKATERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, WEST GERMANY AND BRITAIN FIGURED PROMINENTLY IN THE WORLD PROFESSIONAL ICE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD AT LONDON'S WEMBLEY STADIUM LAST NIGHT (FRIDAY). KEEN COMPETITION KEPT THE BIG CROWD HUSHED WITH EXCITEMENT.

UNITED STATES CONTESTANTS WENDY JONES WON THE WOMEN'S TITLE WITH 47.8 POINTS -- THREE-TENTH OF A POINT AHEAD OF BRITAIN'S LINDA DAVIES. MISS JONES PROVIDED AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE OF FINELY-CONTROLLED SPINS AND JUMPS.

THE PAIRS EVENT WAS WON BY WALTER HAEFNER AND GUDRUN HAUSS, OF WEST GERMANY, WITH 48.1 POINTS. THEY WERE WELL AHEAD OF ALAIN HERMINJARO, OF SWITZERLAND, AND MARGARET GODFREY, OF AUSTRALIA, WITH 45.6 POINTS.

THE UNITED STATES ALSO TOOK THE MEN'S TITLE, WITH GARY VISCONTI, 23, OF DETROIT, SCORING A MAXIMUM TEN POINTS FOR GENERAL PERFORMANCE, AND 9.9. POINTS FOR HIS REMARKABLE JUMPS.

BRITISH CONTESTANTS BERANRD FORD, 21, AND DIANE TOWLER, 22 WORLD AMATEUR ICE DANCE CHAMPIONS FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, ADDED BOTH THE WORLD AND BRITISH PROFESSIONAL TITLES TO THEIR RECORD IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION.