Success for Chch rowing crews

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 27

Success for Chch rowing crews

Christchurch crews met with considerable success when they competed in two rowing regattas at Lake Walhola over the weekend.'

Avon won 24 events, Canterbury five, and Christ's College (schoolboy fours) and Union (intermediate singles, Saturday) also had a victory each. Only three events were possible in the Wilson Memorial regatta on the Saturday morning before the regatta was temporarily “blown out.” It resumed at 5 p.m. and carried through to 9.30 p.m. with a shortened programme. As a contrast the lake’s surface was smooth for the Otago championship regatta on Sunday. As expected, Avon dominated the premier events and the coach (Mr Pat McQuinn) was particularly happy with the way the various fours and the eight performed. The premier coxless four competed in the intermediate eights event and won well on both days. Air McQuinn said that the eight had' had a more powerful row than previously this season. On the Sunday.it had rowed into a fairly stiff head wind but still had quite a fast time. Avon had a training session at Kerrs Reach on Monday even-

ing and Mr McQulnn made a few changes to the boating order of the eight. The new order is likely to be the final one for next month’s nationals. It is: Duncan Holland (stroke), Tony Brook, David Lindstrom, George Keys, Ross Lindstrom, Mark Meates, Mark Gobble, Steve Donaldson. The following Avon crews won races at Waihola (both days unless otherwise specified): Premier single, No. 1 senior coxless pair, No. 1 premier coxless pair (Jeff Lopas and Les O’Connell), premier coxed pair (Ross Lindstrom and Keys on Saturday, Lopas and O’Connell on Sunday), premier coxless four (rowing the intermediate eights), open eights, senior fours, No. 1 premier four, No. 1 novice four, women’s four (Sunday), No. 1 intermediate pair (Sunday), No. 2 junior pair (Sunday), intermediate single (Brian Keys, Sunday), No. 1 intermediate four (Sunday), No. 1 novice pair (Sunday). A number of second and third placing® were also gained by the club’s crews. On Saturday Canterbury won the junior-novice eight, the light-weight fours, and the intermediate fours (division II)On th© Sunday It again won the light-weight fours and took division one of the novice fours.