3000 to watch rowers

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 3

3000 to watch rowers

Encouraged by the unseasonable sunshine and mildness, the Canterbury public came out in their thousands yesterday afternoon for their last look—or first, in many cases —at the Olympic rowing squad.

Cars lined Locksley Avenue three deep for about half a mile, and the public crowding, the banks of Kerrs Reach adjacent to the Avon and Canterbury-Union clubrooms helped swell the total of spectators to an estimated 3000.

The secretary of the Canterbury Rowing Association (Mr J. O. Renaut) said the crowd was the biggest at Kerrs Reach since the 1961 national championships, which were the last titles to be held on the course.

Fine venue A national ruling holds that the stretch of the Avon River in Wainoni is unsuitable for future championships, but yesterday it was a perfect venue for the special exhibition afternoon by the 17 oarsmen and their coxswains. More than half an hour before the display was due to start, the best vantage points had been taken as families arrived with picnic lunches. The greatest emphasis was on speed-work, as the organising body felt this would have the greatest appeal. However, some of the spectators said they would have liked to see more slow demonstrations. Finale A number of short demonstration sprint races were held, initially between the single sculler, M. P. Watkinson, and the two four-oared crews. The finale was a handicap race between those three boats and the eight, the latter giving away some yards to the fours and even more to Watkinson.

The speed and power generated by the eight, after its slower start, was probably the highlight of the afternoon for the large crowd.

A collection was taken and realised nearly $2OO towards the heavy expenses of the team’s European tour. Raffle tickets were also sold, one small volunteer selling nearly $5O worth—loo tickets.