1.
GVs & SVs Flags at venue for European Water Ski Championships at Kirton Farm Waterski Club, Pingewood, near Reading, U.K. Spectators. (3 SHOTS)
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2.
GV Mike Hazelwood competes in men's slalom. (2 SHOTS)
0.40

3.
SV Spectators applaud.
0.42

4.
GV & SV Mike Hazelwood competes in men's jumps final.
1.05

5.
GV Women's trick ski final with Natasha Rumiantseva (USSR) competing and falling.
1.31

6.
CU Natasha Rumiantseva swimming.
1.36

7.
GVs Spectators watch as Marlon Van Dijk competes in women's jump final. (2 SHOTS)
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SPORT: WATER SKIING
BRITISH WATER SKI FEDERATION
AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL SALE OUTSIDE THE U.K.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: British and Dutch water skiers took the top prizes at the European championship which ended on Sunday (17 August). Eighty-six skiers from 22 nations took part in the competition, which was held at Kirtons Farm, near Reading in southern England. Among the competing nations was the Soviet Union, which sent a full team to the championships for the first time.

SYNOPSIS: The three-day event was the second biggest waterski competition ever staged anywhere in the world. Of the competing nations, the British had the highest hopes of taking an individual title. Their team leader was world jump champion Mike Hazelwood, who have a dazzling display in the men's slalom event.

Hazelwood went on to take the men's individual title with an all-round display of water skiing which left his competitors trailing. And this is how he won the spectacular Men's Jump event.

In the women's events, the Russians made a significant entry into the championships when Natasha Rumiantseva set a new world record in the women's trick ski event...even though, on this run, she was not quite up to world standard.

And despite the Soviet woman's record, it was the Dutch girl Marlon Van Dijk who took the individual championship with a fine display of consistent skiing.