Rowing body drops two ‘bombshells’

Press, 15 February 1986, Page 80

Rowing body drops two ‘bombshells’

Even though New Zealand intends to send a large rowing team to the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games it is “extremely unlikely” any crews will stay on in Britain for the world championships in Nottingham three weeks later.

The probability that crews would not attend the world regatta was one of two bombshells dropped by the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association at its council meeting in Wellington this week.

Little headway has been made in reducing New Zealand rowing’s deficit — still about sloo,ooo—and the council also decided to cancel a tour to Tasmania by Senior B colts and women’s crews scheduled later this year. The junior test series against Australia at Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel, in May will proceed, but each rower will have to part with $250. A sponsor is being sought to make up the balance of the tour costs.

Mr Tay Wilson, the council chairman, said from Wellington yesterday that virtually no expenses would be incurred by. the N.Z.A.R.A. in sending a rowing team to the Commonwealth Games in late July. The council reaffirmed

an earlier decision to send a team of 25 to Edinburgh. This will include Mr Dudley Storey, of Auckland, appointed as rowing section manager, and a coach. But Mr Wilson said that it could cost the N.Z.A.R.A. $40,000 for the team to stay on for the world championships at Nottingham which begin on August 17. “At this stage it is extremely unlikely that we will be at Nottingham, unless ’ someone comes and says, ‘Here’s $100,000.’" It would be the first time since 1969 that New Zealand has missed a world rowing regatta. Even in 1977 when finance was also short a coxless four and coach were at least sent to Amsterdam. Mr Wilson said that the premier oarsmen would be getting international competition at Edinburgh anyway, but the colts would miss out altogether. “That’s the tough one.” “Colts tours are getting extremely dear,” he added. The council is hopeful that the drastic action taken in cutting the 1986 tour programme will ensure it can “proceed with greater certainty” towards the Seoul Olympics in 1988.