OLYMPIC TIT-BITS

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33003, 24 August 1972, Page 24

OLYMPIC TIT-BITS

The New Zealand yachtsmen at Kiel are leading a campaign to stop alleged “bending” of Finn-class rules by yachtsmen of other nations.

The manager (Mr H. H. Wagstaff) said there were several unsatisfactory aspects of the preparation for the Finn-class, which begins next Tuesday. The main New Zealand objection was that several European competitors seemed to be playing fast and loose with the rule which says that all Finn equipment must be the standard equipment supplied by the Games organ“We have objected and I think a decision will be made later in the week,” said Mr Wagstaff. - ♦ # * The marathon runners, J. C. Foster, D. C. McKenzie and T. K. Manners, were less than happy with the 26-mile course after driving round it. They found the surface, while good in places, was extremely bad in others, with tram lines, loose gravel and paving stones.

They were also upset to find that the course had 100 bends, some of them very sharp. “It certainly breaks up any rhythm,” said Foster. “I’ll need five or six gears and a good clutch if I’m going to maintain any speed over some parts.” # * *

There is an easy way to get into the women’s Olympic village—if you’re a slightly-built male runner and you can get a couple of girls to accompany you. The trick is for the male to Cut a parka hood over his ead and his hand up to his face, and for the whole group, the others bareheaded and clearly feminine, to run at speed past the guards to the women’s village. * *

New Zealand’s only archer at the Games, R. Sampson, shot a full round of 144 arrows yesterday and his score of 1181 was 21 above his Olympic qualifying mark. * * *

The New Zealand oarsmen at the Feldmoching regatta course continue to play cat and mouse. They spread the word that

they would probably row a fast full course and many people arrived at the course for both training sessions yesterday, hoping to see the eight in action. Almost certainly there will be no full course row now before the first heat on Sunday, but the coach (Mr R. Robertson) does not discount a time trial over 1000 metres.