Top oarsman withdraws

Press, 17 March 1983, Page 30

Top oarsman withdraws

Personal commitments have led to the late withdrawal of the gold medallist oarsman, Tony Brook, from the national rowing trials which begin in Wanganui tomorrow.

Brook was in the bow of the New Zealand eight which struck gold for the first time in 11 years in the world championships at Lucerne last August. The 29-year-old Wairau man said from Blenheim

yesterday that he had just bought a section and would be building on it shortly. He would not have the time to commit himself fully to the build-up for the 1983 world championships in Duisberg, West Germany. “It was not an easy decision to make,” said Brook, who was just back from lake Karapiro where he and the rest of the “golden” eight helped make a FreshUp advertisement.

“Rowing is at a fairly exciting stage at the moment,” Brook said. ..

probably as exciting as 1970-71, building up for that gold medal.” Next year, Olympic year, would be a possible inducement for a Brook comeback. “That’s the big one. But there’s so much talent about, a tremendous amount of potential.” At the moment, though, he is only looking as far

ahead as another season with Wairau. “I’ll certainly keep myself in trim. I’m keen for another club season.”

Brook has represented New Zealand every year since 1978, apart from 1981 when he was on a working holiday overseas. As well as his gold medal he shared in the silver medal win of the 1979 eight (in No. 7 seat) in the world championships at Bled, Yugoslavia.