N.Z. CREWS GOING TO U.S., WATKINSON TO JUGOSLAVIA

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30994, 25 February 1966, Page 15

N.Z. CREWS GOING TO U.S., WATKINSON TO JUGOSLAVIA

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. A New Zealand rowing team will be sent on a tour of the United States and Canada next year, the chairman of the Amateur Rowing Association (Mr L. E. Brooker) announced yesterday.

But only the singles sculler, M. P. Watkin■son, of Auckland, was likely to take part in this year’s world championships at Bled, Jugoslavia.

This was because of the severe standard which would be attached to selection. Mr Brokoer said the national selectors would be given discretion to recommend for selection for the world championships any outstanding crew competing at next week’s national championships. Severe Standards These crews, however, would have to beat times even more severe than the 8.8. K. times. The 8.8. K. times, compiled in New Zealand on the basis of European study and comparison with Olympic and

world championships, required an eight to complete a 200-metre course in Grain Gsec and a single sculler in 7min 26sec. Not only would crews have to put up an outstanding performance, but would also have to beat this standard in a series of time trials, said Mr Brooker. New Zealand club crews rarely beat the 8.8. K. times. Watkinson, however, was an exception.

“Our major worry is that we can’t finance a substantial number of oarsmen,” Mr Brooker said. “To send an eight-oared crew and one other crew would cost £lO,OOO, which would have to be raised in three months. We can’t do that. “However, in the event of an outstanding crew presenting itself, we’ll get cracking and try somehow to get the money. “But it will have to be a really outstanding crew.” Assemble Squad Mr Brooker said crews to be sent to North America next year would almost certainly include an eight. “We proposed to assemble a squad eight which will be selected after next year’s national championships at Lake Waihola. We would probably be able to select our fouroared crew from the eight, as was done in Australia,” he said. Similar selection standards to European championships would be applied. In the United States, New Zealand would probably be able to meet the American eight which won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. “If we do well against these outstanding crews we would feel justified in sending teams to the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968,” Mr Brooker said.