LEARN TO ROW

Press, 20 September 1978, Page 18

LEARN TO ROW

By '

TIM DUNBAR

Avon will be taking a leaf out of the East German rowing book with the new membership drive the club is initiating over the next three week-ends. Normally, the three Christchurch river clubs — Avon, Canterbury and Union — get most of their new recruits each season, largely through word of mouth, from rugby clubs in the city. This season, though, Avon’s introductory “Learn to Row” campaign will be aimed particularly at schoolboy and schoolgirl rowers — an entirely new field. Thus it is hoped

to gain the 14 to 16 years age-group as well as the normal 18, 19 and 20-year-olds from the rugby clubs.

“We’re trying to move into the field in which East Germany is very dominant,” said Mr Fred Strachan, Avon’s senior coach and convener of the national selectors.

East Germany is, of course, the premier rowing nation in the world with the depth of strength that New Zealand lacks. It would. seem that the balance could be redressed a little if other rowing clubs in the country follow Avon’s lead.

Mr Strachan says that although there are many schools officially taking part in the sport with strong rowing clubs, there are many enthusiasts who can not participate because they do not belong to a “rowing school.” The usual aim of having at least 24 novice or first-year rowers has not been" lost sight of, Mr Strachan said, “this group generally covers a big field from ex-school leavers to winter sports enthusiasts looking for a change of activity during the summer months. Officially, the Canter-

bury Rowing Association’s season gets under way at Kaiapoi on September 30 but Avon will get the jump on the other clubs this Saturday with its ambitious scheme. Boys and girls aged between 14 and 16 are especially invited to attend the clubrooms at 10 a.m. or 2.15 p.m. and officials say that parents will be welcome to inspect facilities. “With a reduction •of the sporting activities of most schools after the abandonment of compulsory sport there is a real need in the city for this sort of encour-

agement,” Mr Strachan said, Quite an influx of new members are expected in New Zealand rowing clubs after the first week of November when the world championships are held at Lake Karapiro. Rowing is the first Olympic sport to stage a world championships in this country and clubs know they have to be “geared up” for an expansion of membership. Avon is quite well. off for equipment with four eight-oared boats and numerous fours, pairs and doubles. Twelve new oars were obtained in March and another 12 are scheduled for delivery this season.

A new coxed four was ordered over a year ago from the Christchurch boat-building company, Litecraft, for delivery this month and a new coxed pair is due before Christmas. This boat has been delayed to allow the company to make two new pairs for the world regatta — one for the New Zealand women and the other for the Yugoslavian entry. By Christmas, Avon should also have brought its fleet of plastic singles up to four.