Avon dominates pennant regatta

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33386, 19 November 1973, Page 21

Avon dominates pennant regatta

The all-round strength of the Avon club was illustrated when it won five out of six events at the first day of the Canterbury Rowing Association’s pennant series at Kerr’s reach on Saturday.

Avon took a big stride to take this season's pennant title when the club gained 10 points for its wins. Christ's College won two points, and the other competing clubs, Canterbury, Union, and Timaru, failed to score. Avon succeeded in the I senior single sculls, supplying i the three finalists the senior • and maiden fours, the novice eights, and the maiden pair j events. Its only failure was in the youth fours, in which the club’s two crews did not reach the final. The host club, Union, nad several finalists, but its crews did not have the form to upset Avon’s dominance. But Union did let one event, the maiden pairs, slip by. Union’s combinations, R. Paterson and M. Glue and R. Cartney and M. Knight, qualified for the final with the fastest times, ahead of R. Lindstrom and B. Gillon iAvon). But in the final, Lindstrom, a member of this year’s New Zealand junior eight, and Gillon led throughout the 2000 metres. OARSMEN UNAVAILABLE Canterbury, the defending pennant champion, did not have a happy day, and like Union, was affected by having several oarsmen unavailable for the regatta. Canterbury obtained only three third placings in the six events, the closest it came to winning was in the novice eights when the club’s crew finished four seconds behind the winner, Avon. A highlight of the day was the performance by schoolboy crews. Christ’s College entered five crews, had two finalists, and won the youth fours with a polished display. In the maiden fours final, the college’s No. 1 crew finished second, three seconds behind Avon. Linwood High School, rowing under the Canterbury colours, reached the final of the youth fours, and finished third, 22sec behind Christ’s College. Christ’s College was set for its only win when the youth four rowed a fast smin 12sec to win heat two and finish 17sec in front of the second fastest qualifier, Union. In the final, the four, comprising B. Gilmour, A. G. Robinson, P. W. Milliken, and D. Innes, won by the same margin. LATE EFFORT Avon started its great run when it won the maiden fours event by three seconds from Christ’s College. The College pushed Avon all the way, and the club crew, of M. Gebbie, R. McCoy. R. Lindstrom, and G. Keys, gained its winning margin with a lastminute dash. Avon had to gain two points in the senior singles when last season’s top sculler. J. G. Lopez, finished ahead of h«s clubmates, A. J. Earl and D. E. Lindstrom. It was an iinteresting race; Earl had I qualified for the final three * seconds faster than Lopaz and ■ the two scullers had a good j battle. Lopaz; showing more technique than Earl, who has spent most of his rowing time in crews, led all the wav, but he was gamely pushed by Earl, a member of the Olympic Games eight. Earl was unfortunate to strike a crab just before the finish and he momentarily stopped. Avon boated a near-New Zealand crew for the senior fours and won easily. The crew, T. I. Coker, Earl. D. E. Lindstrom, all New Zealand representatives, and I. Sutherland. a red-coat oarsman, finished first 13 seconds ahead of its No. 2 crew. The second day of the pennants series will he held

December 15 and the final regatta will be held on January 19. Results:— Maiden fours.—Heat 1: Avon No. 2, 6:28.0, 1; Union No. 1. 6:33.0. 2. Heat 2: Avon No. 1, 6:16.0. 1; Christ’s College No. 2 6:19.0, 2; Canterbury No. 2. 6:41.0. 3. Heat 3: Christ’s College No. 1, 6:26.0, 1; Canterbury No. 1, 6:40.0, 2. Final: Avon No. 2, 7:03.8, 1; Christ’s Coflege No. 1, 7:06,6. 2; Avon No. 2, 7:26.3. 3. Senior single sculls. —Heat 1: A. J. Earl (Avon), 6:40.0, 1; Peter Walker (Canterbury), 7:03.0, 2. Heat 2: J. G. Lopaz (Avon). 6:43.0, 1; D. E. Lindstrom (Avon), 6:47.0, 2. Heat 3: G. Nolan (Avon) 6:48.0, 1; B. E. Reid (Avon), 6:48.0. 2; P. Wicks (Canterbury), 7:43.0, 3. Final: Lopaz, 7:38,0, 1; Earl, 7:43.4, 2; Lindstrom, 7:48.6, 3. Youth fours.—Heat 1: Union, 5:29.0. 1; Christ’s College No. 2, 5:45.0, 2. Heat 2: Canterbury, 5:32.0, 1; Timaru, 6:15.0, 2; Avon No. 1, 7:05.0, 3. Heat 3: Christ’s College No. 1, 5:12.0, 1; Avon No. 3, 5:36.0, 2. Final: Christ’s College No. 1, 5:40.2, 1; Union No. 1. 5:57.3, 2; Canterburv, 6:02.4, 3. Novice eights.—Heat 1; Avon No. 1, 3:44.0, 1; Christ’s College, 3:44.4, 2; Canterbury, 3:55.0, 3. Final: Avon. 3:52.4, 1; Christ’s College 3:52.4, 2; Canterbury, 3:56.3 3. Senior fours. —Heat 1: Avon No. 2, 6:32.2, 1; Canterbury No. 2, 6:54.0, 2. Heat 2: Avon No. 1, 6:31.6, 1; Canterbury No. 1, 6:35.2, 2. Final: Avon No. 1, 6:33.6, 1; Avon No. 2, 6:46.6, 2; Canterbury No. 1, 6:57.4, 3. Maiden pairs.—Heat 1: R. Cartney and M. Knight (Union), 7:34.2, 1; Canterterbury. 7:48.8, 2; Timaru, 8:13.6, 3. Heat 2: R. Paterson and M. Glue (Union). 7:35.1. 1; R. Lindstrom and B. Gillon (Avon), 7:36.6, 2. Final: Lindstrom and Gillon, 7:56.4, I; Paterson and Glue, 8:01.2. 2; Cartney and Knight. 8:16.5, 3.