Success on Lake Karapiro

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 24

Success on Lake Karapiro

CHRISTCHURCH oarsmen gave a good account of themselves at the national rowing championships on Lake Karapiro, only seven of the 17 crews from the province failing to reach a

Through the efforts of four of these crews, the standard of rowing in the province could be said to be at an exceptionally high level. The Avon club took the junior eights and fours titles, Union won the maiden tours and the Canterbury club gained third place in the highly competitive senior eights event.

Mr B. Hemery, a top-rarik-ing Australian rowing official, said that the Whakatane combination showed the form and ability equal to that of any of the world’s best club crews and he was optimistic about the future of the sport in this country. His remarks were supported by the exceptionally fast time recorded for die senior eights race, smin 43.35ec, and by the brilliant way in which the race was won. Small wonder then that the Canterbury eight was elated with its third place in this event. Canterbury led the field until the 1200 metres mark. At this point the superior strength of the Whakatane and Waikato crews began to be felt, and Canterbury finished 2| lengths behind the winner in smin 53sec, the fastest recorded by the crew this season.

According to the coach (Mr G. Paterson) the crew had all the will in the world to take the title, but lacked

sufficient strength in the last 800 metres. Four of the eight, V. Allen, D. Pickrill, D. Jack and J. Lopas, competed in the national trials and this was a good indication of the standard of oarsmanship the Canterbury men have reached this season.

Union’s maiden four led the field over the full 2000 metres, beating off challenges from Hawke’s Bay and rowing at an effortless rating of 31 strokes a minute. The coach, Mr B. Knight, said that he could not have asked for more from his crew. Union can look forward to a highly successful season next year in the junior class, as these men will provide the nucleus for the formation of a junior eights combination, along with some of the club’s present senior eights crew who are still eligible to compete in this class. The four had an effortless victory and rowed the . entire race at a rating Of below 30 strokes a minute. Considering that both crews have rowed as maidens this season, the result of the races was all the more outstanding. When they compete in the senior class next season they should be an even match for many of the crews in this division.