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