NEW ZEALAND OARSMEN

Evening Star, Issue 21218, 27 September 1932, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND OARSMEN

PERFORMANCES AT LOS ANGELES MANAGER'S COMMENTS “We had high hopes that our rowers would achieve success at the Olympic Games, and even though they did not' do so, 1 am convinced that they are in the world class, and if Dame Fortune had smiled on them even to a slight extent, I think we would have brought back at least two firsts,” said Mr P. N. Randle, manager of the Now Zealand Olympic team, in an interview to-day on his return to Dunedin. There was no doubt, he commented, that the Avon pair (Stiles and Thomson) were the finest pair-oar in the world, and had it not been for the mishap to the rigger during the course of the final they would have won this event. As it was, they were beaten only by a margin of two seconds. In the filial of the four-oared race with coxswain, the Now Zealanders were very unfortunate, as they drew the worst lane, having to row against the full force of a strong side wind, and by the time they had rowed 1,200 metres the sting was taken out of their rowing. Germany, which drew No. 1 lane, was quite sheltered, and proved the winner. New Zealand had previously beaten the Germans in a preliminary heat. It was interesting to note that a New Zealander was coach of the Gorman crews in the person of Mr Tom Sullivan, and Mr Rundle had the pleasure of meeting him and of having a chat with him about rowing and rowing men in Now Zealand. “ Bobby ” Pearce was in a class of his own in the single sculls, and won as he liked, and there was no doubt that ho was the finest sculler in the world, amateur or professional. “ The New Zealand eight had passed the peak of their fitness when their race was rowed,” said Mr Rundle, who expressed the opinion that two workouts a day. seven days a week, had proved too strenuous altogether, in addition to which they had a sixtymile bus ride every day, of which they became heartily sick. ‘‘ New Zealand was the only country that sent a crew drawn from different parts,” he commented. “ All the other contestants had rowed together lor some years, the winners, the Golden Bears, of the United States, having been together for four years past. “The New Zealand style of rowing was as good and as attractive ns any other, and wo have nothing to bo ashamed of so far as the standard of lowing in New Zealand is concerned. 1 would like to see club eights developed if this is possible,” he concluded.