North Beach crew break through in surf boat racing

Press, 18 March 1981, Page 24

North Beach crew break through in surf boat racing

By

RAY CAIRNS

A North Beach surf boat crew had a three-year plan when the five individuals got together a year and a. half ago, and launched into training. In the first year, they wanted to improve their performance at Canterbury level; the second target was to reach the final at the national championships; and the third was to win that title. But that dream became reality a year early for the North Beach men, and all of a sudden they have found themselves the first South Island crew, since 1973, to win the boat race championship at the surf lifesaving championships, and the frontrunners for a place in the New Zealand team in less than a year s time.

There is one major drawback, however. As Terry Kreft, the oldest member of the crew and its spokesman, said this week: “We just have to have a new boat if we are to be competitive, first in the trials and then against the Aussies. “We’ve got it on the way, too, with Dave Elder (the noted designer of various acquatic craft) designing and building it for us. The only trouble is the cost of about $6000; we just don’t have that sort of money, whereas the North Island crews seem to

have no trouble in getting sponsors. "Boat racing is big up there. I think 34 clubs race surf boats, whereas there are only four in the South Island, all in Canterbury. So while we’re on top, we want it all here: a Christchurch or Canterbury crew in a Canterbury boat, with a Canterbury sponsor.” Though North Beach has a long history of boat racing, the present crew—Kreft.

Dave Pipe (the sweep oar and captain), Steve Pipe, Rob Lindsay and Ron Vette—began its climb at a time when the club had dropped sharply away from its old pbsition of strength. In 1967,it had an outstanding crew which won the national championship silver medals; and there was a crew of similar strength in 1974 which, for all its efforts, got no return at Warrington beach.

“So they sort of flagged it away then, and New Brighton. especially, and South Brighton did best in Canterbury,” said Kreft. “Then Waikuku started becoming pretty competitive, so the incentive was there for us, and so was the competition: a year ago, New Brighton was third at the nationals and we got into the final and sixth. “That really kicked us along, so we had plenty to go for and started our training in September. Reaching two peaks in the season was not

really a problem, because we usually work on that anyway. We look to hit one just after Christmas for the South Island championships, then work that little bit harder for the nationals. This North Beach crew works to a strict pattern in its preparation and competition, too. “We’re usually rating 36 strokes to the minute before Christmas, enough to keep in the hunt in Canterbury. We’re up to about 38 in January, and for the nationals, we’re doing 40 to 42 without dropping any length of stroke. “That’s the key to our success—and Titahi Bay, the' champions before us. It’s Don Dalton’s reasoning, and if he isn’t exactly our coach, he’s the man behind the success. You'll find all North Beach rowers have. a long stroke, and that’s because of Don’s influence.” The long North Beach strokes brought the crew the narrowest of victories, a mere 45cm or so clear of Whangamata, with the old champions. Titahi Bay, . a couple of lengths in arrears. Kreft points out that both the crews have competed at the top level in Australia — “they’re into it in a big way’’—and North Beach is keen to follow in those steps. “W'e’ve tried to talk the Canterbury association into sending a boat crew, over and above the actual team, when Canterbury goes to Australia next year. A boat crew would probably have to be outside the test series, but it would be a goal for us, particularly as we think we might be able, to get a row in the Australian championships, too.” But North Beach has a more immediate target. In January, there will be trials at Mount Maunganui—and maybe some regional trials as well—from which will be selected the national team to compete against Australia a week later. "We really need that spur,” said Kreft. “When we were rowing up and down the beach this season, we had on our mind all the time that we had to knock Titahi Beach off their perch. We hoped for rough seas to do it, and we thought our day was