Withdrawals hit rowing

Press, 31 January 1983, Page 3

Withdrawals hit rowing

The non-entry of both the Avon and Wairau premiers led to many scratchings in the top class at the Canterbury rowing championships at Lake Ruataniwha at the week-end. The coxed four event was. not held so as crews did not break status without competitive opposition.

After several windaffected regattas this season, the heats were held in perfect conditions on Saturday and, although a slight breeze blew yesterday, all races were completed on time.

One of the closest finals was the novice fours, where the Avon No. 1 crew led from the start and held a length advantage for most of the course until the final 100 m, when Otago.challenged and came within a canvas of success. Avon managed to hold on grimly. In the senior singles, the Union sculler, Dale Maher, looked likely to repeat his win of the lightweight event after leading for three-quarters of the course, but the Otago sculler, Mike Holloway, had other ideas and powered his way to a three-quarter length victory. The women’s fours nearly resulted in an upset. Canterbury, which has dominated the event for a long time, had to work hard over the last 250 m to overhaul a very polished North End crew from Dunedin.

In the open eights, Avon, which has been dominant for so long, had only its senior and intermediate crews to represent the club. They could not withstand the powerful display into a slight head wind of the North End combination, which is coached by a former Avon coach, Fred Strachan. North End led the Avon premier crew for three-quarters of a race at a

recent regatta and the combination might cause an upset at the national championships in March.

At the South Island championships at Lake Ruataniwha on February 12-13, South Island crews will have their last chance to compete on a full laned course before the nationals. Results: Premier Single sculls: Union (8.19). 1; Waihopai No. 1. 2; Waihopai No. 4. 3. Pairs: Invercargill (8:44.8), 1; Avon No. 3. 2; Waihopai 3. Coxed pairs: Port Chalmers 1 (8:17.8), 1; Avon No. 1,2: Avon No. 2. 3. Doubles: Waihopai (8:26.2), 1: Port Chalmers No. 2.2: Port Chalmers No. 1. 3. Senior Singles: Otago 1, Union 2. Waihopai No. 2, 3. Pairs: Canterbury No. 1,1; Union No. 1,2: Waihopai 3. Double sculls: Port Chalmers No. I. (7:52.4), 1: Waihopai No. 1,2: Avon No. 1, 3. Fours: Avon 1 (6:56.2) 1: North End 2: Union 3. Intermediate

Singles: Waihopai 1 (8:4.6), 1: Avon No. 2,2; Union No. 1, 3. Pairs: Otago (8:03.2), 1; Avon 2; Waihopai' 3. Doubles: Port Chalmers No. 2.1: Waihopai No. 2.2; Waihopai No. 1. 3. Fours: Avon No. 1, (7:22.1), 1; North End 2: Avon No. 2, 3. Eights: Avon (6:46.8) 1; Alexandra 2; Otago 3. ■ Lightweight Singles: Union (8:56.2) 1; Canterbury 2; Waihopai 3. Double sculls: W'aihopai (7.49) 1; Invercargill 2. Fours: Canterbury No. 1,1; Canterbury No. 2,2; Invercargill 3. Junior Singles: Otago (8.11), 1; Waihopai 2; North End 3. Pairs: Avon No. 1. 1; Otago 2; Canterbury 3. Fours: Avon No. 1 (7:09.8), 1; Christ’s College No. 1,2; Port Chalmers 3. Eights: Christ’s College (6:49.5), 1: Canterbury 2; Waihopai 3. Novice Pairs: Otago (8:51.5). 1. Waihopai No. 2.2; Waihopai No. 1. Fours: Avon No: 1 (7:50.4), 1; Waihopai No. 2,2; Avon No. 2, 3. Eights: Waihopai 1 (6:42.8). 1; Avon, 2, Timaru 3. Invitation coxless four: North End (7:18.2) 1; Canterbury No. 1, 2; Canterbury No. 2, 3. Open eights: North End (6:45.4) 1, Avon No. 3. 2; Avon No. 2. 3. Women Singles: Canterbury (4.26) 1; Invercargill No. 1,2; North End 3. Pairs: Canterbury No. 1, 1 (4:01.8), 1; Canterbury No. 2,2: North End 3. Doubles: Canterbury No. 2,1; Canterbury No. 1, 2; Invercargill No. 1, 3. Fours: Canterbury No. 1, (4.31), 1; North End 2; Port Chalmers 3. Intermediate fours: Port Chalmers 1: Canterbury No. 2,2; North End 3. Novice fours: Alexandra (4:44.6), 1; Oamaru 2, Waihopai 3. Eights: Canterbury No. 1. 1: Invercargill 2; Canterbury 3.