Blenheim’s rowing boost

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 10

Blenheim’s rowing boost

By-

TIM DUNBAR

Sam Le Compte is pretty small as international oarsmen go. Nothing is more certain, though, that the little Wairau Rowing Club welcomed him with open arms when he moved to Blenheim last week-end.

Two years . ago Le Compte was in virtual obscurity as a member of the Union club in Christchurch: now he is at last recognised as one of the best strokes in the country. Le Compte had won New Zealand titles in both maiden (1971) and junior fours (1973) with Union and was, indeed, the Canterbury “oarsman of the year” in 1973, yet his impact on the national scene was minimal. For the 27-year-old plumber the rise to prominence began when he transferred to the much s ronger Avon club, and in March this year he won the much prized “red coat” with a surprise victory in the champion coxless fours at the nationals.

His euphoric “retirement” at Lake Karapiro then was soon forgotten as he was picked to stroke t’ e New Zealand coxless four at the world championships. That crew was desperately unlucky not to make the finals and convincingly won the petitefinal for seventh place in the world. It is obvious that real determination has played a major part in the advancement of a man who weighs only 79kg and

stands about 1.75 m. Le Compte said before he left Christchurch that he did not accept the widespread belief that “you have to be a big fellow” to do well in rowing. His philosophy is admirable. “What you’ve got in the way of guts and the fellows you row with are the important things,” says the man who lacks nothing in fibre himcelf. Lack of size would be important in the middle of the boat “but not where I’m sitting” — in the stern — and Le Compte points to the Whakatane oarsman. David Molesworth, who collected as many as 13 red coats (fourth equal on the all time list) in spite of his build. “It’s the fitness that counts. If you can go flat out through 2000 m then you’re right up with them,” he said. Lacking in race fitness, most New Zealand crews at the world championships were “great to the 1000 m” but could not maintain the effort. “One of the things I found out there was that you race to the 1000 m to sort yourselves out and the race starts there. In New Zealand it's often all over by then,” said Le Compte. He would be overjoyed if that crew (Le Compte, Tony Brook Robbie Robinson and Steve Donaldson) could be kept together. “We were still learning a hell of a lot at Karapiro.” A

Mr Fred Strachan, the convener of the national selectors, says that the “straight” four could possibly have got third or fourth if it had reached the final. Unfortunately, Russia, the eventual gold medallist, chose not to qualify from its heat and New Zealand had to contend with it in the repechage. On hand to help Le Compte in Blenheim is his former club-mate, Ivan Sutherland who returned to his home town last year while continuing to row for Avon. Sutherland was a member of the last two New Zealand bronze medallist

eights (1976 and 1978) and won a silver in the coxless fours at the 1977 world championships. Yet his dream is to win a red coat for Wairau, last successful back in. 1954. That dream looked unrealistic when Sutherland first admitted to it. With Le Compte’s arrival the possibility is at least there, as the two may combine in a small boat. “I hope Ivan wants me

to row with him — I think he does,” the most likely combination would be a coxless pair. Ironically, one of their toughest prospective opponents might be the Lindstrom cousins, David and Ross, two more Avon members of the New Zealand eight. “It would be wit against wit, I think,” said Le Compte who has rowed only once before with Sutherland in a small boat. “We have slightly different stylesA’ He also , intends to do a bit of sculling. “I went out the other day. and was a bit useless: it' shows you need to practise.” - When he left Le Compte had no job yet arranged in his new town and his morb immediate concern was the rowing. “I’d like to go well: the people up there would appreciate you winning.”

This move may or may not further advance his career. However, Le Compte is convinced now of the wisdom of his initial transfer to Avon.

“You have to go where the fellows are to get on, to get that lucky break. Everyone has to do it. “Athol Earl (the Munich Olympic gold medallist) tried to con me up first and I most probably would not be rowing now if I hadn’t changed clubs.” Winning races has given Le Compte “the bug” for rowing and Wairau is going to benefit from a stocky fellow who always gives his best.