For Immediate Release
September 17, 1995

CANADIAN WATER SKIER MESSER WINS GOLD

Roquebrune-sur-Argens, FRANCE - Canadian water skier Judy Messer (Streetsville, Ontario) says she likes France - no wonder - she won the Women's Overall Title at the 1995 World Water Ski Championships in the French Riviera. Along with that gold, she has a bronze medal from the trick event with a score of 7000 points. "That is the best trick score I have had in 10 years. The last time was in the 1985 Worlds which were also hosted by France. Kinda neat, eh?" Messer was referring to her other World Championship gold medal performance from the 1985 Worlds, also in the trick event. Messer was leading the overall race going into the finals. "I told myself as I was getting ready on the dock, "I like France, It's been good to me before, so lets do it!" she continued, "I had skied well in the preliminaries, so I wanted to build on that feeling - using it as positive." The Canadians feel that must have worked for her. "I feel great. I am really glad to have finally done it." Messer has often placed close to the title. She has previously placed 2nd in 1985, and 1991 and 3rd in 1993. This is Messer's 9th consecutive World Championships. When Water Ski Canada officials informed her she has been a member of the Canadian National Water Ski Team longer than everyone else ever has (16 years) she commented, "Really? That's exciting!"

Big brother Joel McClintock, a National Team member currently head coach of the team, won an overall title at the 1979 Worlds. "To see Judy win the overall is the second best feeling I've ever had. After a great start, every time Judy hit the water, things literally just kept getting better and better. She skied with confidence like I have never seen in her before. Judy's contribution to the team is outstanding. She is the only female skier at these Worlds to ski in all 3 finals. Judy has skied for Canada in every Worlds since 1979 and she has never let us down."

BRONZE FOR LLEWELLYN

In the men's overall race, Jaret Llewellyn (Innisfail, Alberta) was third, only 20 points behind 2nd place Italian skier Andrea Alessi. Patrice Martin of France claimed the gold. Other Canadian performances on this final day at the Worlds include Drew Ross (Belleville, Ontario) with 9th place in the men's slalom. Men's jumping had Jaret Llewellyn 5th (59.4 metres), Jim Clunie (Tisdale, Saskatchewan) 6th (58.7 metres) and Kreg Llewellyn (Innisfail, Alberta) 12th with 55.4 metres.

The Canadian Team placed third behind France and United States.

For further information please contact: Angela Gallant (613)-5683