George Donaldson, Emily Milner and Hugh Donaldson finished last weekend’s shortened Oz-Kiwi Challenge with positive results. Photo supplied.It wasn’t all plain sailing, but three Ashburton water-skiing dynamos walked away from last weekend’s Oz-Kiwi Challenge with positive results.

Competing at Myuna Bay in New South Wales, brothers Hugh and George Donaldson and fellow Ashburton local, Emily Milner all walked away with podium finishes for their efforts during an interrupted competition which was halted due to involvement from the local council.

On Friday afternoon, just two days into the four-day tournament, organisers were advised by local government officials that the tournament had to be shut down immediately following a report on a nearby dam which suggested there was a low-risk breach in a major earthquake.

With no consultation with the local ski club, the announcement was a shock to all involved and left organisers scrambling to get through the final stages of the Friday competition before packing up and getting off site.

Discussions were held around moving the championships to the closest available location which was three hours away but it was deemed unfeasible.

Despite the shortened nature of the challenge, the results still flowed for the three Ashburton skiers.

Both George and Emily came away with bronze medals while Hugh finished fourth.

In outstanding form in the Under 21 men’s category, George picked up New Zealand’s top score and in particular shone with a score of two bouys on a 12 metre line in the slalom, no easy feat on salt water, which makes turns tricky.

In the tricks section he scored well, just nudging twin-brother Hugh out for the bronze medal.

The sibling rivalry continued into the jumps section with Hugh turning the tables with a personal best of 51.3 metres and then 51.4 metres. In the Under 17 girls’ event, Milner was in great form and could hold claim to being the last ever skier to go over the Myuna Bay ski jump.

She jumped personal bests in both rounds of jumps with a 32.7 metre on her final jump enough for the silver medal. As well as her jumps medal, she won bronze in both slalom and tricks which was enough to secure her the overall bronze medal.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 5 April 2019