N.Z. Rowing Crew Chosen

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30830, 16 August 1965, Page 6

N.Z. Rowing Crew Chosen

Two Canterburyoarsmen have been selected to join the New Zealand crew in training which will tour Australia at the end of October. They are M. Brownlee (Avon) and G. Walford (Canterbury). Brownlee was selected for the New Zealand eight which rowed at the Tokyo Olympics.

Only one other South Island man has been selected. He is I. Dixon (North End) Dunedin.

About 35 of the country's top oarsmen came to Christchurch for the week-end. At

Kerr’s Reach they went through what one described as “the most thorough and gruelling tests ever.” The weather did not add to their enjoyment. For the two days of the trials, the rain never stopped. But yesterday, when the Possibles rowed against the Probables, water conditions were perfect. The selectors, Messrs D. Rowlands (Auckland), R. Douglas (Mercer) and F. Strachan (Dunedin) found it very difficult to select the final crew. They named 12 men, but two will join the reserve list and will not tour Australia unless illness forces retirement of an oarsman. The trialists first undertook the 100 plus tests. Eighty per cent scored more than 120, and 60 per cent more than 140. The lowest score was 97 and the highest 183. Most of those who scored well in the 100 plus tests also did well on the ergometer. Afterwards the men rowed on the water in eights and by the end of the afternoon the selectors had whittled the numbers down to 16. The hard rowing came yesterday morning. In bitterly cold weather, the men prepared to start at 8 a.m. “I realise we gave the oarsmen a bit of a bashing, but It had to be done,” said Mr Rowlands.

The crew was announced by Mir L. Brooker. He congratulated the Canterbury Rowing Association for the manner it had run the trials. “It was first class. I have never seen a better run or organised set of trials,” he said. The crew is.—T. Dobbie (Wellington) age 23, height

sft Ilin, weight 12st 41b; P Delaney (Wellington). 23. 6ft 2in, 13st 101 b; A. Webster (West End), 23, sft U<in. 13st; G. Trevett (West End) 22 6ft 7in, 15st; M. Larsen (West End), 21. Oft 2)in. 14st D. Boswell (Auckland) 27. 6ft 2iin. 13st 61b; M. Brown iee (Avon), 22, 6ft 2in. 14st 4il>: G. Walford (Canterbury) 23 6ft lin, 12st 121 b; I. Dr on (North End), 21. 6ft 2| n. 14st; G. Cawood (Waikato). 25. sft Ilin, 13st 71b; L. M Lobell (West End), 26, 6ft lin, l?st 121 b; D. Storey (Auckland! 26, sft 10fin, 13st 71b. The co\is B. Jones (Hutt Valley), 20. sft 7in, 7st 131 b.