Oarsmen begin training

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33676, 28 October 1974, Page 10

Oarsmen begin training

Preparation lor an intensive test series against three Australian state colts rowing crews in December began for the New Zealand colts rowing eight and double sculls at Kerrs Reach on Saturday.

! The eight, V. Harr (Petone), I. Boseria (Petone), [t. Logan (Hutt Valley), G. I Hamilton (Porirua), H. iWindleburn (Waikato), K. Divers (Otago), D. Beil (Mercer) and G. Ball (Waikato), and the double sculls representatives — G. Bell (Mercer)’ and C. Johnson (Hawkes Bay) — Assem- ; bled in Christchurch under the national rowing coach [(Mr R. Robertson) for trainling at Kerrs Reach until I November 30, when they will I leave for Lake Waihola for I the first test series against 'the Australians. ' Coxswain for the crews is R. Thackeray, of Porirua. | The first series to be rowed Ist Lake Waihola on December 7 will be against colts eights and double sculls from Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria. This will be followed by tests against the visitors at Picton on December 14, and at Karapiro on December 21. Mr Robertson said on Saturday that the selection and training of New Zealand colts rowing teams was an effort to build up strength in depth for national rowing and it appeared to be working satisfactorily. It was imperative that this [policy be sustained if New Zealand was to hold its high ranking in world rowing, said Mr Robertson. In comparison with some European countries, notably East I Germany, where rowing was included on the school curriculum with a consequent pool of thousands of keen and knowledgeable young oarsmen to call on, New Zealand did remarkably ; well on limited resources, he I said.

On the question of water depth available at Kerrs Reach, Mr Robertson said that although conditions were satisfactory at high tide periods, it was obvious that a major effort was needed to improve the river condition and allow maximum training periods to be utilised. “It is hard on the boys sometimes working under the present conditions, but until I have had a good look at the water at this time of the year I am not certain how we will go with this training period.” Apart from the scheduled tests for the colts against the

i Australians, there was a heavy programme for New Zealand rowers next year, said Mr j Robertson. * A New Zealand team would ' take part in the world junior .championships in Montreal next i year. | A crew would participate in ; the world women’s champion- | ships in Nottingham, where a i senior men’s contingent would > also take part in the world { championships. ! Towards the end of next year the New Zealand colts would visit Australia to return the visit being made by the Australians for the forthcoming test series. Mr Robertson said the polity of selecting and coaching the promising young rowers had {shown its benefit with the last [New Zealand crew at the world ! championships. I “We lost half of our Munich ' crew, but with the replacements were not that far away from the best in the world,” he said. The Union No. 1 crew had a comfortable win in the final of the mixed eights event held at Kerrs Reach yesterday. The Avon club’s No. 1 crew was second. Results were;— Mixed eights.—Heat 1: Union No. 1, 4:52.6, 1; Avon No. 1, 4:55.6, 2; Christ’s College, 5:25, 3. Distance: Three-quarters length, distance. Heat 2: Avon No. 2, 5:26, 1; Union No. 2, 5:32.5, 2. Distance: One length and a half. Final: Union No. 1,1; Avon No. 1. 2; Avon No. 2, 3. Time: 4:55. Distance: One length and a half.