Surprises in trialists

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34097, 8 March 1976, Page 30

Surprises in trialists

(By

TIM DUNBAR)

The presence of New Zealand’s most successful coxswain,- Simon Dickie, is just one of the surprises in the list of national rowing trialists for the Montreal Olympics announced yesterday.

Dickie coxed the two Olvmpic gold medallist crews but left the rowing scene after New Zealand took the eights title at Munich four years ago and has not been involved in the sport since. His selection is certain to be a controversial one and may be considered an insult to the country’s leading coxswains and rowers who have been actively involved in the sport over the last few years.

Other surprising decisions are one not to send scullers of any description to the Games; the extremely small number of trialists—24; and the omission of several prominent oarsmen.

The convener of the selectors, Mr Fred Strachan, said that the standard of sculling at the national championships was not high enough for a crew to have a good chance of reaching a final. “We’ve been pretty tough in deciding who to pick and no more than three crews—an eight and coxed and coxless fours, depending on quality—will be sent to Montreal.”

Dick Joyce (Wellington), New Zealand’s only double Olympic gold medallist oarsman, withdrew his nomination at the eleventh hour after indifferent performances in the two champion pairs final and the other half of those combinations, Ross Collinge, was not picked.

The only prominent oarsmen who were not available, apart from Joyce, were the great Whakatane combination. Wybo Veldman and Noel Mills. Among the former New Zealand representatives dropped were John Alexander (Whakatane). John White and Murray Watkinson I (West End), and Jeff Lopas (Avon), who struck rough water in the singles semi-

final and failed to qualify for the final. There were 73 nominations for the oarsmen and 21 for coxswains. The trials will be held at Wanganui from March 19.

As expected five members of the champion Avon eight —Athol Earl, Trevor Coker, Dave Lindstrom, Ivan Sutherland, and Ross Lindstrom — and the whole Petone champion coxless four have been included.

The trialists are:—P. Dignam (Auckland University), A. J. Hurt, B. Rae (West End), D. W. Keane, G. Ball, D. Rodger, R. Robinson, H. Windelborn, L. E. Wilson (Waikato), R. Blomfield (Whangarei), R. Murphy, G. R. McAuley (Whakatane), R. W. Tonks (Union, Wanganui), I. Boserio, V. Haar, D. Lock, T. Logan (Petone), A. McLean (Wellington), T. I. Coker, A. J. Earl, David Lindstrom, Ross Lindstrom, I. Sutherland (Avon), K. Divers (Otago). The following coxswains will also attend the trials: A. Cotter (Waikato), J. Chambers (Petone), S. Dickie (Taupo), D. Simmons (Avon), R. Thackeray (Porirua).