Top rowers for N.Z.

Press, 29 August 1977, Page 30

Top rowers for N.Z.

NZPA Amsterdam Almost all the world’s rowing nations will attend the world championships at Lake Karapiro next year. New Zealand officials | attending the world cham-i pionships at Amsterdam's' Bosbaan course said they were very pleased indeed with the response. The final attendance figures will not be known! until shortly before the; championships start late in i October, but the organising secretary, Mr Cyril Hilliard,, said: "We certainly hope to have 30 nations there — vir- | tually all the world’s; rowing countries.” After a final meeting gave the New Zealand organisers' a chance to answer ques- 1 Hons about the 1978 championships, 25 definitely decided to ißlvel to New Zealand.

i “Some will only send a very small representation, I but we'll have the world's! i best in New Zealand,” said ! Mr Hilliard. ’ The New Zealand coxless I fours crew is aiming to ■finish among the medals on ' the final day of the Amster- i ' dam rowing championships: today After qualifying for the .final by placing third in i their semi-final yesterday,: ithe New Zealanders are 'determined to do well. Their third place in the; ,first heat of the semi-final! was faster than the winning ’time in the second heat, and .on paper the New Zealanders have every chance of a, I silver medal — giving way; ' only to the crack East Ger-; !man crew which holds the) Olympic championship and I has won the world championship three vears in a row.

i' After beating the Nether- , .lands in the preliminary i’finals, the New Zealand crew I of David Lindstrom (Stroke) Ivan Sutherland. Des Lock > and David Rodger finished ’ about a canvas behind the i Dutch crew — about a (length back from winners, ’ I East Germany. The final of the glamour ! event of world rowing — ' the eights —- will be without da New Zealand crew for the : first time in 10 years. , Lack of finance kept the iJNew Zealand eight at home ; this year, and the final will Ibe rowed between Czech- ’ oslovakia. East Germany, • I West Germany, Britain, the ■: Soviet Union and the United ’States. J East Germany dominated the women’s finals, winning all six events.