“Low Standard Of Physical Fitness”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31081, 9 June 1966, Page 18

“Low Standard Of Physical Fitness”

The Canterbury Rowing Association last evening expressed its concern about reports that some of the oarsmen who took part in selection trials for a New Zealand crew were * of a low standard of physical fitness.

The trials were held in Auckland on June 4 and 5 to select an eight to represent New Zealand in the world championships at Bled, Jugoslavia, in September. The association will send a telegram to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association Council expressing its concern that some of the candidates taking part in the trials were far from the peak of fitness required for world championship level. It also requests that the council hold a time trial under 8.8. K. conditions over 2000 metres for the crew by July 31 or 15 days prior to the departure of the crew for Europe, whichever is the sooner.

The crew must be able to cover the 2000 metre course in or under six minutes otherwise it should not be permitted to represent New Zealand.

A letter, copies of which will be sent to each association will follow the telegram.

These decisions followed long discussion in committee on time trials and the standard of fitness of trialists, some of whom were selected for the crew.

Further discussion took place on the council's plan reported at the May meeting of the C.R.A. that this crew would form the basis of crews to compete in Canada next year and at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968. The association considered that the council was not really working within its proposed framework of building up a strong New Zealand crew.