ROWING WINTER CALISTHENICS TO BE STARTED SOON

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29232, 16 June 1960, Page 15

ROWING WINTER CALISTHENICS TO BE STARTED SOON

With delegates from the various clubs having pledged themselves to support the scheme, the Canterbury Rowing Association will shortly commence calisthenic classes for the winter training of rowers. At a meeting of the association’s management committee last evening it was decided to ask clubs to have their nominations for the classes in by the end of this week, so that the training can commence early next month. Mr E. Lindstrom, who will arrange for the classes, said the coach (Mr R. Luscombe) would be prepared to start as soon as the rowers were ready. Mr Luscombe was the organiser of the calisthenic classes for the Canterbury Swimming Centre, and has agreed to take 25 rowers

for winter training under the present arrangements. "You wouldn’t believe the results that the calisthenics have produced for the swimmers of this province,” said Mr Lindstrom. "Girls of 12 years are doing exercises that some of our rowers would probably not be able to achieve at present.” The classes for rowers will extend over about three months, so that crews can still be on the water for next season by October. The committee discussed at some length a suitable venue for the classes, and it was decided to approach the Avon club for the use of its new building at Kerr's reach.! Speaking on the type of rowers i who should be encouraged to attend the classes, Mr C. A. Stiles said he| believed Canterbury rowing had got on to the wrong footing. "I have studied the cases of winning eights in the United States, and I found that the average age is about 21. the average height about 6ft 2in and the average weight 13 stone. It seems rowers must be of this build to reach the heights in the sport ” Mr Stiles said Canterbury had won the interprovincial eights on only one occasion, and he invited members to think back to the type of rower who comprised the crew "I was a member of that crew, and I can tell you that they were all more than 6ft and over 13 stone in weight. I am offering these thoughts as constructive criticism, for the type of vouth we must try to encourage.” Much trouble arose at present through the “shepherding" of schotflbov rowers, said Mr E. Lindstrom He considered that the association must do Its best to try to encourage tall, strong youths into the sport..

Olympic Fund Collection.—lt was decided to sunport the collection for Olymnic funds on July 2, and the association will aim to provide 20 collectors for the Canterbury Amateur Snorts Federation. The president (Mr W. G. Richards) said it was the duty of rowing clubs to sunno rt a cause which one day might be to their own benefit. N.Z.A.R.A. MeetingMr B. R Walker reported on the half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand association held in Wellington recentlv. Mr Walker was chairman o' the meeting.

River Carnival.—The association is to give its fullest support to a river carnival, which is to be held in conjunction with festival week in November this year. Messrs B R. Walker (convener), E. R. Caiman. W G. Richards and A. Borman were apopinted a river carnival subcommittee.