Rowers Start Today

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32382, 22 August 1970, Page 10

Rowers Start Today

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) CAMDEN (New Jersey). New Zealand’s oarsmen will have a better idea of assessing their world title chances after racing against some of the leading crews in the world at the American rowing championships today. None of the New Zealand crews were on the water on the first day of the championships, being held in the Cooper River, but will be represented today by the four and the pair-oar crews. The four will line up in a strong field of 12, and the pair—R. Murphy and D. Molesworth—face competi tion from 14. However, the New Zealanders have been able to watch the eights elimination race which decided the American representatives for the world championships. The three finalists were Washington, Union, and Vesper. The Washington crew, which the New Zealanders

beat comfortably at the Berkeley regatta earlier this month, went well for most of the way but finished behind Vesper and Union. In the last 300 metres, Vesper took the lead and went on to win by half a length. Its time was a sensational smin 42.55ec for the 2000metre course—but the New Zealanders are not too concerned with the time. They are convinced the sun veyor is a peg or two out. One of the eights was rowed into a head wind in 6min O.lsec so there are grounds for their convictions. Now that the New Zealand eight’s English-made blades have arrived to go with their Italian-made shell, the crew is looking much more finished in its work.

The greatest differences between the New Zealanders and the Americans are that the Americans are generally much bigger physically and race at a higher rating.