VISITING OARSMEN

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32536, 20 February 1971, Page 48

VISITING OARSMEN

Fourteen husky oarsmen from Sydney University are in Christchurch, ready for a strenuous tour which will culminate at the national championships on Lake Karapiro in the first week of March.

Starting with a two-day regatta at Kerr’s Reach this week-end, the visiting oarsmen’s programme includes meetings at Wellington, Wanganui and Auckland before the New Zealand titles. Then a week later, they will compete in the New South Wales championships, at which their principal aim is the winning of the junior fours title. C. Noel, perhaps the most experienced member of the squad, with eight seasons of rowing behind him, said yes-

terday that all the oarsmen were juniors who had had at least two seasons of rowing since leaving school. Three of the visitors were in their first*, season of club rowing. The coach of the crew (Mr M. Grace), who is on the three-man Australian selection panel, said the university oarsmen had been in training for the last three months.

The eight has been involved in a strenuous training programme since its arrival in Christchurch. It had two long rows on Thursday and yesterday and included some sprint work in its programme. Taking into consideration these points and the fact that the crew averages 6ft Ijin and 13st, it seems certain of a very successful tour of this country. But however impres-

sive their form and prospects, they will not under-estimate the strength of some of the Christchurch combinations.

The Avon maiden eight, coached by Mr F. Strachan, chairman of the national selection panel, has an unbeaten record in this class this season, and should provide some lively competition.

The visiting rowers are: Standing, from left, D. Stiel (6), M. Joseph (emergency), C. Noel (5), J. Punshon (pair), I. Plater (2), A. Curtin (4), S. Newnham (3), and Mr M. Grace (coach); in front, Mr J. Boultbee (manager), R. Mclean (bow), J. Donnelly (cox), A. Horsley (pair), and E. O'Loughlin (7). L. Cornell, captain and stroke of the eight was absent.