Boost for N.Z. rowing

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33629, 3 September 1974, Page 28

Boost for N.Z. rowing

(From ROBERT HORROCKS, N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent.) LUCERNE. Women’s rowing in New Zealand could now go only forward, the president of the New Zealand Women’s Rowing Association (Mr Cyril Hilliard) said after the coxed four finished third in the petite finale of the world championships in Lucerne.

The third placing gave New Zealand the equivalent to ninth position over-all from 11 entries in the coxed fours. Mr Hilliard said he felt the New Zealand crew had given an improved performance in the race. Less than a second separated it from the petite finale winner, West Germany. He said that when the New Zealand crew returned home it would spread the experience and knowledge leamt in Europe, and women’s rowing was certain to benefit. East European countries dominated the championships, with the East Germans heading the medal table with places in all six events, including four gold medals. The Soviet Union and Rumania, which each won a gold, col-

lected most of the other medals. As expected, East Germany and the Netherlands battled for victory in the women’s coxed four, with the East German crew avenging last year’s defeat in the European championships at Moscow. Rumania was third. New Zealand was involved in one of the cloest finishes of the day- The West Germans just held off Bulgaria’s challenge to win by a quarter-of-a-second in 3min 38.045ec. New Zealand's time for third was 3min 38.695ec and well behind in fourth and fifth places were the United States and Britain.