ROWING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20018, 28 August 1930, Page 9

ROWING.

NEW ZEALAND EIGHT. A CANADIAN IMPRESSION. The New Zealand eight whieli put up saeh a good performance at the Empire Games, rowing England to within threequarters of a length in the Champion Eights, made a good impression in Canada. Writing of them in the "Hamilton Spectator" on July 25th, the special correspondent praises them enthusiastically. ".From A. H. (Tiny) Eastwood, _ the 84-pound coxswain, to i l . (Mick) Brough, the powerfully muscled stroke, the oarsmen of New Zealand are athletes and sportsmen in the real sense of the word," ho says. "And from 'Tiny' down the brawny visitors aro all experienced rowers who never feel properly comfortable unless they arc seated in their shell waiting for the starter's gun." Describing their first practice, ho goes on: "At 7 o'clock New Zealand's famed All Black eight took the water under the watchful eye of Herbert Ayers, the rowing coach and the greatest authority on the subject in the Antipodes. The Anzacs displayed beautiful form as they pulled across the bay with powerful strokes. Bail birds who knew the sport were frankly amazed over the performance. " 'One of tho finest crews I have ever soen, and take it,from mo I've seen the best of them,' one spectator said. 'Look at tho way they are moving through the water. These fellows come by their reputation honestly. After seeing them to-night I'm convinced it will take a. mighty good crew to beat them.' " i The account runs on: "The All Blacks, j apart from their own natural ability, benefit from tho expert advice of one of the finest coaches in the world. Herbert Ayers, the veteran pilot, has been perfecting rowing crews down under for the past 35 years and to start to enumerate his many successes would \ require many colums of space. Suffice 'to Eay that he knows his business from start to finish. "Mr Ayers comes from Christchureh, where he is a prominent figure in business, social, and sporting circles. Among the many positions he holds is the position of honorary coach to the Canterbury Bowing Club. "The manager of the New Zealand team, B. J. Hobbs, is an insurance man by profession and is noted for activities in business, athletic, musical, and social circles in Christchureh. It was Mr Hobbs who made the statement on arriving here: 'The Empire's sons have fought together and now wo will play together.' "