N.Z. rowing fours scrape into finals

Press, 26 July 1976, Page 12

N.Z. rowing fours scrape into finals

By

MAX LAMBERT,

NZI’A staff’ correspondent

Montreal

I\ew Zealand's two four-oared crews scrambled into the finals of the Olympic rowing regatta on Saturday.

Both shells, the four [with cox and the four 'without, joined the eight jin the finals, which will ibe rowed in the small hours of this morning (New Zealand time). ; Both fours gave New Zealand supporters some heartstopping moments as they raced the 2000 metres course in the St Lawrence River iduring the semi-finals. Each (crew finished third in its event and had only slim margins over the fourthplaced boats — United States both times The coxed four only had slightly more than 7/10ths of a second over the. strongfinishing Americans and

probably would have been passed had the course been a little longer. The American oarsmen surged stronglv from last place at the 1000 metres while New Zealand, which had had the lead for the first half of the race, faded on the final 500 metres. The coxless four had close ion three seconds over the* Americans, an apparently s I comfortable margin, but the Americans, who had actually swept past the New Zealanders in the final stages,! "caught a huge crab" and their boat virtually stopped just short of the line. The New Zealanders, however, had had difficulty steering their shell and were tangled up in the lane buoys lin the later stages.

New Zealand's best chance i of a gold todac still looks to be the eight and the coach (Mr Rusty Robertson) believes the crew can win. The fours, although thee made hard work of getting into the finals, also have prospects. The coxless four, despite problems on Saturday, had the third fastest time of the six qualifiers for the finals. If the oarsmen get lucky and row as they are capable :of doing, they have a good ! | medal chance. The coxed four had the slowest qualifying time but still rate a chance if they can prevent the last quarter fade which hurt them on I Saturday.