Rowing star called in to give pep talk

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 32

Rowing star called in to give pep talk

From

BOB SCHUMACHER,

in Wellington The double Commonwealth Games rowing gold medallist, Stephanie Foster, is one of the main components, albeit a secret one, in a plan aimed at causing the downfall of Australia in the Tasman Cup women’s golf international at Heretaunga today and tomorrow.

Behind the plot is the effervescent Wellington Golf Club professional, Geoff Pitman, who has been given the responsibility of preparing New Zealand’s challenge - and masterminding means of prising free the Tasman Cup from Australian hands that have held it tight since 1968. “Not even the girls know about Stephanie,” said Pitman, who has offered much encouragement to women’s golf over the last seven years (the first four of which were at Russley), yesterday afternoon.

New Zealand’s last success was at Heretaunga, although there was a tie in 1978, and Pitman will be keen for that information to readily filter through to the Australians.

However, it is on Foster, the country’s glamour girl behind blades, whom Pitman is pinning his faith on instilling motivation, which has sometimes been lacking with other New Zealand women’s teams.

"I’ll be picking up Stephanie from the train later this afternoon and taking her to where the learn, is staying. She is going t», give a 45-minute speech, talking about pride and sacrifices, of seeing the kiwi flag raised, of wearing New Zealand colours. This is the first time that this has been tried with a woman and with someone as famous as Stephanie the New Zealand girls have a person they can look up to,”

Pitman said. Pitman considers the New Zealand team of Jan Cooke, Liz Douglas, Tracey Hanson, Debbie Smith and Annette Stott, as well prepared as any previous national side. After the Canterbury championships, won by Hanson, finished on March 25, the New Zealand team was selected and spent the next three days at Heretaunga under the intent and trained gazed of Pitman.

Pitman said that he was the professional at Russley in the New Zealand Tasman Cup "debacle” of 1983 (won by Australia, 17-7) and he wondered if it was worth while involving himself in helping the national team. “After what I saw then ... even at practice Jan Arnold was screaming ‘I can’t hit it anywhere’.” He feels, though, that this New Zealand combination has more to offer. “The players have done everything together, they've made an effort to get motivated, they’ve got a bit of sparkle.” Conversely, Pitman considers that Australia could not feel satisfied. “Tracey Hanson’s win against one of their best players, Nicole Lowien, in the New Zealand junior final on Wednesday was a psychological lift and the have tended to work hard on their games. This was not the case in 1983 when they played the Tasman Cup straight after the New Zealand championships which were dominated by

the Australians. This team does not have the same track record.”

However, the Australian non-playing captain, Carole Blair, herself a member of the Tasman Cup winning side at Shirley in 1972, is not concerned either with the team’s preparation or that New Zealand last won when they played at Heretaunga.

She does not see Heretaunga as a possible bad omen. “It’s a brand new ball game to these players, they weren’t involved in that last loss, but even though we’ve won the Cup nearly all the time since we’re not complacent.”

Although the senior team has had little top competitive golf of late, Miss Blair said she was happy with their play and preparation. Led by the vastly experienced Edwina Kennedy and Louise Briers, all five Australians have international experience and successes at the highest level.

This morning’s foursomes draw has New Zealand’s No. 1 pair, Douglas and Cooke, who carded a five-under par 66 in practice, against the Australian second combination, Mardie Lunn and Alison Munt, and Hanson and Smith against Kennedy and Briers in the reverse contest. The singles played do not have to be named until 30min before teeing off.