N.Z. Third And Fourth In World Rowing

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32396, 8 September 1970, Page 11

N.Z. Third And Fourth In World Rowing

/Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SAINT CATHARINES (Canada). New Zealand finished third in the eights and fourth in the coxed fours in the finals of the world rowing championships.

East Germany won the eights and Russia just beat New Zealand for second place.

'4 Although television rnoni"tors showed that the New Zealanders went out well at the ; start they were slow through the 500 metres, lying fourth with Russia, East Germany and Australia ahead. By the 21000 they had moved to second, only one-third of a length them from East •Germany. This could well have cost them a better finish as they half the course trying ~to regain their lost advantage. ' Down the course the New Zealand crew rated 35 and were up to only 38 at the gun. in contrast, East Germany •rated 37-38 down the course >nd finished at 40. Russia’s .finishing burst was withering, seeming to catch the New Zealanders by surprise. ; GOOD TIMES -• The times were very fast The eights was won in smin 36.1 sec and the New Zealanders rode the course in smin 38.4 sec. The wind was six knots, blowing slightly behind the crew, diagonally across the course. The New Zealanders did not start particularly well in the grand final of the coxed four and through the 500 -metres lay third behind West Germany and Russia. The pace was punishing and they came to the 1000 metres in 3min lO.lsec. The New Zealand stroke, J. Johnston, kept the crew fighting to hold Third but the Norwegian crew, rowing brilliantly, moved through from second-last to second behind West Germany. * The New Zealanders again challenged but going through the 1700 instead of raising •ihe rating to 37 they could hot get past the third crew, .East Germany. • Down to the line the big CWest German crew, though rnot smooth to look at, were very powerful through the 2water. The struggle for minor placings down the course had ibeen fierce and Norway was overtaken by East Ger.many at the 1900. New Zealand came across the line .fourth. West Germany was first, then East Germany and Norway. HARD TASK

• When it is realised that CWest Germany alone has €O,OOO active oarsmen it can be appreciated what class of rowing is possible from Europe. In this company, the young Jfew Zealanders, Johnston, R. •Collinge, N. Mills, G. Minnell >nd the cox, P. Lindsay, finished as fourth fastest crew in the world. This was a remarkable achievement

The winner’s time was 6min 28.5 sec, New Zealand's 6min 35.95ec and in virtually neutral conditions these were intredibly fast times. The crew have never rowed better than in the final and the 25,000 crowd cheered them as if they were locals.

- Results: • Coxed Fours—Final. West Cermany 1, East Germany 2, Jtorway 3, New Zealand 4. Argentina 5. Russia. 6 Time: 6:28.55. Petit-final: Switzerland 1, France 2. the Netherlands 3. Time 6 34.07.

Coxless Pairs.—Final: East Germany 1, Poland 2, West Germany 3. Russia 4. Time: 6:57.81. Petit-final: United States 1. Australia 2. West Germany 3. Singles—Final: A. Demiddi ./Argentina) 1, G. Draeger (East Germany 2, J. Hellebrand (Czechoslovakia) 3, I. Malishev (Russia) 4. J. Meissner (West ‘Germany) 5, G. Bombelli (Italy)

6. Time: 7:16.54. Petit-final: J. Dietz (United States) 1. L. Balter (Sweden) 2. K. Dwan (Britain) 3, Z. Bromek (Poland) 4. H. Kraakenes (Norway) 5. S. Drea (Ireland) 6, Time: 7:20.67. Coxed Pairs.—Final: Rumania I. East Germany 2, Russia 3. Time: 7:25.30. Petit-final: Austria 1. Denmark 2. Finland 3. Time. 7:37.94 Coxless Fours.—Final: East Germany 1. West Germany 2, Denmark 3. Time: 6:23.15. Petit-final: Jugoslavia 1, France 2. Italy 3 Time: 6:32.81. Double Sculls—Final: Denmark 1. East Germany 2. United States 3 Time 6:28.68 Petitfinal: Britain 1. Austria 2. the Netherlands 3. Time: 6:42.69.

Eights.—Final: East Germany 1, Russia 2, New Zealand 3. West Germany 4, Australia 5, Poland 6. Hungary 7. Time: 5:36.10. Petit-final: Norway 1, Britain 2. United States 3. Time: 5:43.

Medal Standings B G S East Germany .. 3 4 0 West Germany 1 1 1 Denmark 0 Argentina 1 0 0 Rumania 1 0 0 Russia .. 0 1 1 Poland 0 1 0 Norway . . 0 n 1 Czechoslovakia .. 0 0 1 United States . . 0 0 1 New Zealand 0 0 1