Rowing move angers officials

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 64

Rowing move angers officials

PA Hamilton Waikato Rowing Club officials have hit out at the new classification system for rowers, which will see the club top-heavy with premier oarsmen next season. A club stalwart and New Zealand selector, Pater Baddeley, described the decision to speed up the progression of oarsmen to senior and premier status as the most negative thing he had known in rowing. The Waikato and New Zealand ' coach, Harry Mahon, said the move was ludicrous adding that his club would have about 30 oarsmen who wereronly

allowed to row in premier events next season. The Waikato club this season already has the country’s largest premier squad of 17, with the consequent strain on resources and difficulty in using all the talent. The new system that the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association has brought in for this season means that any intermediate or senior rower who won an event at the Auckland championships at the week-end automaticaly goes up a grade next season. The ’ same promotion applies to any senior who wins a title at next week’s

New Zealand championships on Lake Karapiro and any intermediate who finishes in the first three placings. Previously an oarsman could, if he wished, spend at least two seasons in the senior ranks as long as he did not win a premier title at a classification regatta such as the Auckland or national championship?. A senior or intermediate had to win two races of their class in each of two separate seasons to be upgraded. Waikato must promote 12 of its seniors to premier ranks as well as reclassifying one premier, ft-

who is still officially a senior, for the coming season’s competition. In addition eight intermediates will become seniors. “It’s going to be hopeless for next season — a real headache in a number of ways,” Mr Mahon said. “It puts us in an invidious position. We’re almost being punished for being the most successful rowing club around. “Just from a point of view of equipment available we’re bound not to be able to cater for all the premiers we will have. It almost means if some people want to get on they’re going to have to I

leave the club,” said Mr Mahon. “Eight of those seniors who have earned premier status were intermediates last season and four of them only left school at the end of last year,” he said. Mr Mahon predicted a big retention problem in the sport at a time when it was booming at all levels. “It is completely ill thought out as far as the ramifications go. It might be happening to us this year, but it will be someone else like North Shore or West End next year.”