Wairau pair wins place in rowing final

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 34

Wairau pair wins place in rowing final

PA Dunedin The Lake Waihola wind did not please the Wairau premier coxed pair yesterday, but; it still managed to win its repechage and gain a place in. the final of the national rowing championships.; . - s Ironically, the conditions before this race had' been perfect all morning. The lake had ; been calm and placid and the performances of the crews reflected this. But close to 2.30 p.m. and the repechage, heat the wind began to' blow and conditions' roughed up: “It was terrible water and. the race should have been postponed,” said the stroke, - Ross Lindstrom. ' ' ; .= .■

The Wairau crew got a good start and shot to the lead: when, the face started, immediately took command of the race and wbn in the good time of Bmin 10.485. This was four seconds ahead of Oamaru and Otago, which finished in the major placings. • “We got a lead of two lengths by half-way and hoped that none of the other crews would sink,” Lindstrom said. “If any crew sinks the race has to be rowed again. “It was very rough and the boats ploughed into it and took on a lot of water.” Lindstrom and his partner, Mark. James, believe rough water on Tuesday was

responsible for their loss to Waikato in the heat. “They got a good start and there were a few things not quite right in our boat,” Lindstrom said, “but we are starting to get on top of these and it will be different on Saturday." Avon’s senior eight, stroked by James Elliott, qualified for the final by winning its repechage in 6min 28.035. The club’s novice eight will be joined by a familiar rival, Wairau, in their final tomorrow. Union’s senior cqxless pair of Dale Maher and Dave Handisides has also made the final after winning the first repechage in 7min 50.665. Earlier Maher won his re-

pecharge heat in the champion lightweight single sculls to qualify for the semi-finals, but Chris Duncan (Canter-, bury) and Roger Babbington (Avon) finished second in their respective races and were eliminated. Other Christchurch crews in the semi-finals include the Christ’s College intermediate eight, the Canterbury junior four, the Avon No. 2 intermediate coxed pair, and the Union senior coxed pair of Richard Cretney and Bob Davidson. Champion coxless pair (1, 2, 3 to semi-finals).— Repechage one: Hauraki Plains (M. Troughton, S. Murray), 1: Invercargill (R. North,’ D. Galbraith), 2; Time: . 7:49.41. Repechage two: Otago ‘ (W. McLaughlin, M. Matich), 1;

Wellington (S. Burridge, A. Stewart). 2; Star (P. Milson, M. Penny), 3. Time: 7:45.30. Repechage three: Hutt’Valley No. 1 (P. Morrison, B. Keeton), 1; Waikato (G. Horan, R. Dormer), 2; Avon No. 2 (D. Manning, G. Dwyer), 3. Time: 7:52.65. Champion coxed four (1. 2 to final).— Repechage one: Avon, 1;, Star, 2. Time: 6:51.27. Repechage two: West End, 1; Petone, 2; Hutt Valley, 3. Time: 6:53.56. Champion lightweight double (1, 2,3, 4 to final).— Repechage one: Te Awamutu (M. Martin, J. Smyth), 1; Auckland University (M. Eliassen, A. Rowe), 2: Ngaruawahia (G.. Prendergast, K. Haggie), 3. Time: 7:38.59. Champion singles (1, 2 to final).— Repechage one: Whakatane No. 2 (G. Reid), 1; North Shore (E. Verddnk). 2; West End No. 4 (B. Ctpper). 3: Time: 7:s4.o7.’Repechage two: West End

No. 3 (L. Eade). 1; West End No. ! 2 (B. Beavis), 2; Petone (D. Lock), ; 3. Time: 7:51.43.

Champion coxed pair (1. 2 to ; final).— Repechage one: Petone j No. 1 (Vu/Haar, R. Lock), 1; i Wellington (A. Stewart, S. Bur- j ridge), 2; Petone No. 2 (C. May- I hew, M. Walsh), 3. Time: 8:05.08. I Repechage two: Wairau (R. ; Lindstrom. M. James), 1; Oamaru I (T. Mullally, R. McNamara), 2; Otago (W. McLaughlin, M. Ma- ! tich), 3. Time: 8:10.48. i

Champion women’s coxed pair (1, 2 to final).— Repechage one:.; Canterbury (T. Burns, P. Thom- i son), 1; Hamilton (R. Clarke, K. ; Houtman). 2; Opotiki (R. Fitz-. gerald, C. Palmer). 3. Time:! 4:25.61. Repechage two: Picton (K. Scott, K. Surgenor), 1; Wellington No. 1 (A. Holloway, T. Muir), 2; Auckland University (H. .1 Dervall, L. Thomas), 3. 'Nme: 4:27.61.