Decision In Rowing Test Today

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31548, 9 December 1967, Page 15

Decision In Rowing Test Today

(By Our Rowing Correspondent) The question being asked in New Zealand rowing circles at present, where the national eight and four are concerned, is not, “Who will win?”, but, “Will the Australians get within a length of New Zealand’s crews?” In making this rather flattering assessment of New Zealand’s prospects in the test series at Kerr’s Reach today, many irrelevancies are being taken into acount. In roving, possibly more than in any otter sport, success depends on the pooling of resources. Man-to-man comparisons, although inevitable, are virtually meaningless. Equipment is a different proposition. No matter how good a racing shell may be, no crew likes rowing in a strange boat, and the Australian eight has adjusted its boat considerably from the rigging it had when it served

as a training shell for the New Zealanders.

They did not have it rigged up in one piece long enough to get used to it before arriving at Kerr’s Reach, but in their training sessions they have been getting an incredible length of “run” out of it.

The question of water conditions, taken for granted by any New Zealand crew, is another problem and a much greater one for the visitors. This is a fine crew of international standing, accustomed to courses on which a great deal of money has been spent to bring them up to international standard. On such courses as the Nepean, the flow is regulated for regattas and speedboats are banned.

It is not difficult to imagine that the uninhibited performance of Wellington water skiers and “water hogs” on the Korokoro course during the recent test races made a far from favourable impression.

The Australian oarsmen expect to perform much better on the placid, if shallow watejj of the Avon. These are

the best practice conditions they have had so far and the Australian coach, Mr G. McColl, has taken fullest advantage of the two full days he has had to prepare his crews.

The Australian eight is not so heavy as its counterpart, it is younger, and with only six weeks’ preparation before coming to New Zealand, it is much less experienced. Even so, they are relishing the prospect of taking ..on the New Zealand eight, at the latter’s own speciality, power rowing, at about 35 strokes a minute.

The Australian eight’s approach to rowing is scientific in the extreme. The pitch of rowlocks, “spread” and length of reach are calculated meticulously and the concentration and self-discipline of these powerful young men augurs well for today’s important race. Their sliding becomes more relaxed and their boat control more impressive with every outing and there is a bite and vigour about their entry. The New -Zealand eight,

rowing at peak, is a formidable, polished machine, capable of coping with any conditions and deadly in its fixity of purpose. However, so far the Australians have been far from their peak, and Kerr's Reach looks like giving them their best chance. The four is in a different situation. The cox, A. Glover, is, at 23, one of the most experienced in the game and was with the national eight in Canada. He and the stroke, A. Duval, have doubled as coaches. They have missed the assistance from outside the boat that all crews need, but as a result have driven themselves harder. Determination is an important factor in all racing and the Hutt Valley four, the national champion crew representing New Zealand, will have a hard tussle. The test series will end today. With a lead of 8-5, New Zealand cannot be overhauled, although Australia could square the series if it wins the final three races—eights, fours and single s Tills.