Rowing Team May Be Reduced

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31343, 13 April 1967, Page 14

Rowing Team May Be Reduced

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON. There is a strong possibility that New Zealand will be represented only by an eight-oared crew at the Canadian Centennial Games in Montreal in August. Because of the withdrawals from the original squad of 13, the sending of a four may be abandoned. The four withdrawals to date are the Hutt Valley oarsmen, R. H. Collinge and R. J. Joyce, and the Aucklanders, D. G. Boswell and D. Storey. Both Collinge and Joyce have officially notified the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association of their decisions, while Boswell and Storey have written to the council stating they would not

be available if Christchurch remains the training venue. In their letter to the national association, the two Aucklanders suggested that the four, if one is sent, could be trained by the official coach, Mr R. Robertson, at Christchurch, and the eight by Mr R. Porter at Auckland.

The chairman of the New Zealand Rowing Council (Mr L. E. Brooker) said yesterday that there had been no official discussions about splitting the training. He said, however, that “this could be a satisfactory solution.” Mr Brooker reaffirmed the council’s decision to stage the three-month training period at Christchurch. “1 have heard nothing to the contrary,” he said. Reports that the 13 oarsmen originally named, the three selectors and the squad manager, Mr D. G. Croot, would be brought together In Wellington for discussions

aimed at removing the problems were not substantiated by Mr Brooker. “There have been suggestions, quite a lot of them, but nothing official has been done,” he said. Mr Brooker said that the original plan to send a four with an eight could be abandoned.

“It is up to the selectors. If they feel that they cannot find four adequate replacements, then we might have to give away the idea of being represented by a four.” Meanwhile, the oarsmen selected for Canada, or those remaining, will assemble, as planned, on Saturday. But it will not be in Christchurch, as scheduled. It will be in Wellington and the occasion will quite definitely not be for arduous rowing trials. The entire squad will attend the wedding of the Wellington oarsman, P. Delaney. Because of Delaney's wed-

ding plans, the training has been put back a week and the oarsmen will now assemble in Christchurch on Saturday, April 22. Delaney will not be available till the following week.

The problems of the national selectors are not. It is understood, confined to oarsmen not being available. Two of the country’s best coxswains, B. Jones (Hutt Valley) and R. Page (Auckland), have declined an Invitation to travel with the squad to Canada. Neither can attend the Christchurch training. New Zealand’s champion single sculler, M. P. Watkinson, may compete for New Zealand at Canada. He has been officially nominated by his club. West End, and the national selectors have Intimated he would be chosen providing he returns a satisfactory time trial. Watkinson is in England, and wilt row a time trial during the English rowing season.