Close competition likely in rowing championships

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 9

Close competition likely in rowing championships

A REPEAT of last year’s New Zealand Championship final is likely in the senior eights final at the Canterbury championship regatta, which will be held on Kens Reach today and tomorrow. No second chance exists for competitors as only heat winners will advance to the semi-finals. Three of the first four placegetters in last year’s final, Wellington (first), Oamaru (third), and Canterbury (fourth), will meet one another for the first time this season. Wellington appears the favourite in the senior fours event Last Saturday at the Ruamahunga regatta it beat the current champion, -Hutt Valley. But with Oamaru, which is coached by the national coach, Mr R. Robertson, and Union and Canterbury capable of causing an upset Wellington will be hard-pressed.

The senior doubles features the Union combination, J. Uttle and R. Satherley, and North End, from Dunedin, has entered N. Montgomery and I. Dixon, who represented New Zealand in Australia some years ago. These two pairs seem the best of the six entered, but the former New Zea-’ land championship winner Wakatipu, and the brothers

B. and .C. Burring from Otago Club will provide keen competition. Last season’s singles winner, R. Sutherland (Wairau) will compete again in this event, which includes T. Just, who will have his first competitive outing in a borrowed boat His new craft arrived from Italy last November damaged beyond repair.

Other entrants include the consistent performer from the Wellington club. Star, A. Garrett, the experienced Wakatipu pair, K Robinson and R. Woodbury, and local oarsmen, T. Armstrong (Union) and W. Bromley (Canterbury). Although entries total the same as last year, more competitors have entered the senior events. The most entries for any single event is 17, in the maiden fours. In the novice fours 15 have entered. Local crews appear stronger than last season and. should return better performances than for many years against the visiting crews, of which Nelson and Wakatipu will be appearing for the first time. All except two races today will be heats, the first of which starts at 10.30 a.m. Semi-finals and finals will be rowed tomorrow from 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.