Hay can eat as much as he likes

Press, 30 April 1982, Page 15

Hay can eat as much as he likes

By

TIM DUNBAR

Andrew Hay. the surprise choice to steer the New Zealand rowing eight in the world championships later this year, is the first coxswain for a while not to have to worry about his weight. Most New Zealand coxswains of the recent past — including the 1981 eights choice, Tony Russell — have had weight problems which meant forgoing the odd meal or two and avoiding certain foods. North Shore's Hay. on the other hand, is marginally under the minimum weight of 50kg for the coxswain of a male crew .. . and there was even talk in rowing circles that he might have to use weights. But the 18-year-old Hay put paid to those rumours when he was in Christchurch

last week with the rest of the 1982 New Zealand elite eight on the way south for the opening of the new international course at Lake Ruataniwha.

“My weight's about 49 point something. I can usually bring it up by having a big’ breakfast or something." It seems that Hay’s weight was quite an important factor in his selection to steer and call the eight at Lucerne in Switzerland this August. “This cox can eat what he likes, he’s the ideal weight," said one of his three national selectors. Mr Peter Baddeley (Hamilton). “It's not good for their health for coxswains to keep their weight down." Mr Baddeley said that the North Shore club had spoken very highly of Hay. “He seems a fairly intelligent sort of boy and performed

well at the trials." Those trials were not, in fact, the senior ones at Wanganui in March when the rest of the eight was selected. Only two coxswains. Richard Palmer (Waikato) and Andrew Graham (Avon), were invited there and both were apparently rejected on the grounds of their limited international experience. Hay, who is not exactly big on that score either, did not make an appearance until the colts trials a fortnight ago and he' headed off three other contenders, among them the former New Zealand coxswain. Alan Cotter (1978 to 1980), and Palmer who was named in the national colts eight for the second year in succession. The season just finished was actually Hay’s first in club rowing,- but he does have a solid background in schoolboy rowing at West-' lake Boys' High School which included coxing the under-16 eight to a national title at Lake Waihola in 1979, and coxing the senior eight at the Maadi Cups of 1980 and 1981. North Shore did not even have Hay as its premier class coxswain last season — Russell had that honour — and the club crews he guided in the New Zealand championships at Waihola in March were the senior four (fifth) and the intermediate pair (second by about 60cm). But it was during that national regatta, the last which will be held at Lake Waihola, that Hay got what

seems to have been his big break. Waikato's Chris White, the No. 6 man in the New Zealand eight, explained: “Our club was short of coxswains down south. Andrew was available so we used him.” Thus Hay got the prime job of coxing the Waikato premier pair of White and “Herb” Stevenson. It won the championship title by three lengths and the North Shore youngster had his first "red cap" — rowing for another club. . “That could have.got me front of the’selectors’ eyes, sort of thing." Hay mused. The dispensation for Hay to row with Waikato was channelled through Brian Hawthorne, coach of the premiers at North . Shore which has given the

coxswain a lot of support. "I've had some really good coaches who have taken an interest in me," said Hay, who made reference to the help of Eric Craies (the former New Zealand coach) and Peter Rea during his schoolboy days.

Hay started work at the Bank of New Zealand in Ponspnby only two months ago, but is hopeful of getting a transfer to Hamilton when the eight starts intensive training at Lake Karapiro on May 22. “They.’ve (the bank) been right behind me."

‘Tve never been overseas before and am really looking forward to it, especially Europe." • ,

The national selectors are obviously looking to. the future — specifically the 1984 , Los Angeles Olympics — by picking Hay as coxswain and there is a healthy injection of youth in the Harry Mahon-coached eight he will take “charge" of next month.

There are a couple of “oldies" in the crew such as David Rodger (Waikato), still only 26 though he first made the New Zealand eight in 1974 at another world championships at Lucerne, and Tony Brook (Wairau). aged 28. a member of the 1979 silver medallist crew. But then there are the younger breed who should by rights still be around in 1984: White (No. 6). Roger WhiteParsons (No. 5). and Barrie Mabbott (reserve) are all aged 21, and Avon’s big man, George Keys, is only 22 though a New Zealand colt back in 1975.