SPARTAN LIFE ENDS FOR ROWING CREW

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29994, 1 December 1962, Page 9

SPARTAN LIFE ENDS FOR ROWING CREW

"The Press" Special Service

PERTH. A group of men who know each other like brothers will soon disband forever. They are the 10 members of the New Zealand rowing eight squad, who have trained and lived together for the last 18 months. They were asked this week if they would be prepared to undergo again another programme of this nature. Most said they would find no new satisfaction in repeating it They did not, however, regret what they had done, and would have done it again. A few said they would undertake it again, but for other demands. Some are married or have postponed marriages. Others have to study, and some are likely to be transferred permanently by their employers. But one man, A. J. Webster, possibly the most cheerful member of the crew, once again grinned broadly and said he would be happy to join another squad. That would depend, however, on him passing selection tests. They all agreed that the formation of another squad was necessary, but there was some unity in the

thought that fewer restrictions should be placed on crew members. In all the time they have been training together, it might have been thought that the glass of beer relished by most weary sportsmen would have been taken occasionally. But in the 18 months, they have not had one glass of beer.