European rowing tour is sought

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32431, 19 October 1970, Page 18

European rowing tour is sought

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

New Zealand would not even gain a place in the Olympic rowing finals at Munich unless it had a build-up in competition in Europe next year, the convener of the national rowing selectors (Mr F. Strachan) said at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association at the week-end.

European competition early in 1972 would be too late, he claimed. The meeting was discussing a $50,000 tours bill of estimate for the next two years, necessary if New Zealand wants to send an Olympic-class team to Munich, to the European championships in Copenhagen, and a colts team to Australia in December, 1971. Mr Strachan said that New Zealand's attitude in rowing was to win. The rowers at the world championships were not content not to have won in the eights and fours. Despite the financial strain oarsmen faced with an overseas tour, every single member of the world championship team had intimated that he was willing to go to Europe and Munich.

“Let’s raise the finance. It can be done,” Mr Strachan said. “I promise you victory in Munich in 1972.” He disputed that the cost at the Canadian world championship tour was $28,000, because he said the anal costing had not been done. The Canadian trip and a 1971 European trip would cost closer to $25,000. Better Standard The atandard in Europe was so pouch better that it New Zealand wanted to continue holding its eminence In rowing it must have European competition, he said. The association decided to go ahead with Its three planned tours, Including the 1971 buildup, and to begin planning fundraising immediately. A New Zealand tour by a United States or a West German rowing team is possible in the coming season. The meeting was told that some American university and West German crews had expressed interest in touring New Zealand. The chairman of the association’s tours and finance committee (Mr L. E. Brooker) said: “It Is more economical for us to run tours within New Zealand under the reciprocal arrangements we make than for us to send crews overseas.” . Under the reciprocal tours arrangement with Australia, it should be sending crews to New Zealand in November-December, 1973, Mr Brooker said. In addition. three Australian clubs would, probably be sending parties of oarsmen and supporters to New Zealand on private tours next season—a Sydney University eight early in January, the Haberfield club (Sydney) in February and March,

and the Joon Dallop dub, from Perth. Mr L. L. Hosking, an association delegate to the Federation of International Rowing Associations congress told the meeting that New Zealand had the facilities to run a full federation regatta, but the financial resources were beyond them. Developing a course would cost several million dolars. * The meeting decided to continue investigating and pressing for gunshot starts to international races, instead of the present flag starts.