Hery also began his routine with a triple back somersault and Barani Out Fliffus, continuing with a full twisting back somersault, back somersault (pike position) 1/ 2 in, 1/2 out Fliffus, Double Back Somersault, 1-1/2 Twisting Back Somersault, Full Twisting Somersault , Double Twisting Back Somersault, Back Somersault, Full Twisting 1-3/4 Back Somersault into a Double Cody. The other top corr.prtitors in the championship final field of eight were: Fred Sanders, Tucson, Arizona; former Big 10 Champion at Michigan, Ed Cole, Evanston, Illinois, 1965 Professional Diving Champion and former National Collegiate Trampoline Champion; Pat Winkle, London, England; British Trampoline Champion, and Brent Williams, Carbondale, Ill, star of the 1966 Southern Illinois NCAA Gymnastic Championship team. George Nissen, sponsor of World Professiona 1 Championships is pictured with winners displayin g c hecks.
In contrast to Amateur Trampoline contests which are conducted on a grading point system similar to that used in gymnastic meets, the Professional Championship featured match competition in the form of a double elimination tournament whereby each competitor had to be defeated twice before being eliminated. A loss of one match dropped the competitor into the losers bracket where he still had a chance to compete against the winner of the winners bracket. Competitors compe t ed in pairs, alternately, presenting an optional routine. No score or mark was assigned. In each match the judges only decided which of the two competing performers presented the better over-all routine.
ERWIN CAPTURES 196 7 WORLD PROFESSIONAL TRAMPOLINE CHAMPIONSHIP
A capacity crows of over 3500 at Addison (Chicago) Trail High School Saturday, Feb. 4, saw talented Gary Erwin of Arlington Heights, Illinois become the 1967 World Professional Trampoline Champion. Erwin, the 1965 World Amateur Champion, turned in a stunning performance to nose out defending champion George Hery, Framingham, Massachusetts. Ronnie Munn, former Nationa 1 AAU Champion from Amarillo, Texas finished third, just ahead of John Hamilton of Dallas, Texas. Prizes totaling over $2,000.00 were awarded the winners, with Erwin winning $1000.00 for first place, Hery $500.00, Munn $300.00, and Hamilton $200.00.
The meet was sponsored jointly by the World Professional Trampoline Association and the Illinois Gymnastic Coaches Association. In addition to the trampoline competition, the crowd was treated to several unusual sports attractions, including an
Erwin's consist ant near fault less form and control performing difficult routines in one match after another finally won out. His winning routine started with a classy triple back somersault, followed by a Barani Out Fliffus, Double Back Somersault, Full T'Wisting Back Somersaul~, Rudolph,
outstanding Uneven Parallel Bar exhibition by Doris Fuchs Brause. Doris was a 1964 U.S. Olympic team member and won wide acclaimfor her near-perfect optional routine at the 1966 World Gymnastic Championships at Dortmund, Germany
Full Twisting Back Somersault, Double Back Somersault with a twist, 1-3/4 back some rsault and a double cody.
In a lively closely fought Spaceball -16-
CONTINUED