N.Z. Four 3rd, Must Row Again To Reach Final

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30569, 12 October 1964, Page 15

N.Z. Four 3rd, Must Row Again To Reach Final

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

TOKYO, October 11.

Rowing brilliantly over the last 400 metres, the New Zealand four made up more than three lengths on the field to finish third, a length behind the winning Italian crew, in the first Olympic rowing event.

The New Zealanders got away to a good start but after 750 metres of the 2000-metre course were more than three lengths behind the boat in front, and five lengths from the leader.

The Italian crew, which won the heat, jumped out from the start, and with a high rating, took an early lead from Norway and The Netherlands. New Zealand was in fourth place and the United Arab Republic last.

The crews retained the same positions to about the 800-metre mark when the Netherlanders moved into second place, ahead of Norway. After 1500 metres the New Zealanders headed off the Norwegian crew but was still well behind both Italy and Netherlands. More Effort Made

At the 1600-metre mark the New Zealand stroke, Alistair Dryden, called for an extra effort and the boat moved more quickly than at any stage of the race. By the 1700-metre mark the New Zealand crew had closed the gap to two lengths, then to one length at the 1900-metre mark. With the New Zealanders rapidly catching them, both the Italians and the Netherlands representatives made a

final spurt and retained their lead to the finish line. After the race the New Zealand coach, Mr J. K. Stevenson, said the crew was quite pleased with its row. Had they not been left at the start he felt that they could have finished first. Row In Repechage A win would have taken them directly into the final but to make the final now they will have to win their repechage heat tomorrow. As was expected, the outstanding crews of the event were the Russians and the Germans. The Germans won the first heat easily from the United States, while the Russian crew won the third heat, even more easily, from France. The Germans had the fastest time at 6min 44sec as against the 6min 45sec recorded by the Russians. The

New Zealand time of 6min 51sec was the sixth fastest of the day. Conditions at the Toda course were near perfect, only the slightest of breezes ruffling the water. Gone was the smog which blanketed the course for most of the past fortnight and in its place was bright sunshine, with the temperature in the low 70’s. For a change, the humidity was at a comfortable level. May Change Tactics In their repechage heat tomorrow it is expected the New Zealand crew will alter its racing tactics, especially over the first 500 metres. As it was today, the crew found itself in the position of b.ving to sprint for almost half of the course to catch up with the field. If they are to win their repechage they will have to move much more quickly in the early stages of the race than they did today. At stages in today’s row the New Zealanders achieved a rating of 48 in their endeavours to catch up with the leaders. Their most economical rating was closer to 40. It was uncertain who they will row against in the repechage but on times today it would appear that likely rivals in their heat could include the Cubans and Japanese, both of whom returned 20 seconds and more slower than the New Zealand crew’s. Sectional times for the New Zealand four told their own story. A quarter way down the course they were behind the Italian crew by just over 6 seconds.

At the half-way stage they had won back two seconds. They regained a further halfsecond in the next 500 metres and at the finish were just over three seconds behind the winning crew.