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THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1951.
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FIERCE OPPONENTS when they meet in competition, Gerry Murray (left) and Toughie,
· Brasuhn are just like other mothers as they prepare to give sons, Mike and Billy, lessons,
BEDTIME for Mike means a story before he falls asleep probably to dream that he is speeding around a track, single, handedly crushing all opposition as his mom applauds.
MOM'S A GOOD SKATE
PRACTISING MAYHEM on wheels, Gerry and Toughie battle for the advantage as they flash around a turn, each accking to spill the other and lead the pack for try at points..
GETTING away for a good stari, Mike and Billy receive a help
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ang hand from their mothers as they learn #tekcol" techniques A
NEW Hatfield and McCoy feud appears to be in the making. Whizzing around the banked Roller Derby track in New York these days, practising blocks and Jams, are two fighting, young-i *sters of battling familles. They are Little Billy Monte, 4, and "
speedy Mike Gammon, 7.Their mothers ara. Gerry Murray a Gammon and Toughie Brasuhn Monte, who 'nightly thrill 'Epéra tators with their rough-and-tumble bouts. Both fathers also "ure top flight skating stars.
Living up to his parents' expectations, Mike has been clocked around the oval in 12.5 acconds. Avarago skater's time - Is 12-
seconds,
~Besides being ́an ̈exceptional skater, Mike is'a naturál-athlete, excelling in baseball and swimming. But his frat love is the banked boards, where he can square off with Billy and others.
Although mother is a 125-pound flash of dyriamlie on the irack, she's just a homemaker when she's out of the spotlight. "Home" is a hotel room at present, for schedules keep them constantly, on the go. However; she still finds time to mend the family's clothes and teach her boy how to skate.
Veteran skating couples like the Montes, and the Gamenons are well paid now that the sport has really caught on. They' usually average as much as $20,000 a year. This sum is a far ery from the pin money they earned 12 years ago when Gerry Murray joined one of two teams, fighting not only on the track but against a rising cost of living, day after day, as the Roller Derby jumped from elty to city,
MOM'S SKATES are all that matter to Mike as family packs and prepares, to leave on a The Gammons travel in thor own car so they can do some alghtestolmu -
DERBY STARS must be a combination of speed, figure and telik skaters. They have to be ble to maintain their leblance unites, thamaraja mand