THE SPORT OF ROWING but he surely read our minds and managed to get us all going in the same direction – no mean task! In doing it, he instilled a great sense of achievement and pride in all of us. “He was a great friend, and we held him in the highest esteem. They were happy and challenging months we spent in Auckland prior to the Melbourne Olympics. “It was a really bitter blow that our eight was withdrawn at the last minute, but the worst part was that I’m sure we would have acquitted ourselves well had we gone.”5434 “The only plus of the whole two and one-half months spent has been the memories of the friendships we formed together, particularly the other crew members and Eric Craies. “And so the bullet was bitten so many years back in 1956. I have developed a deep gratitude for the part Eric paid at that time of my life.”5435 After Craies’ 1956 Composite Eight had been rejected, a single sculler, coxless-pair and coxed-four with other athletes were sent to the Melbourne Olympics. All three made the semi-finals but were eliminated there. In the years that followed, there were three New Zealand club small boats that medaled at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, along with a fourth place in the singles at the 1960 Olympics earned by Jim Hill 6’2” 187cm 183lb. 83kg from Hamilton R.C., about a half-hour drive from Lake Karapiro. During these years, Eric Craies was a national selector but not a national coach. 1962 Commonwealth Games Popplewell: “By 1962, it was recognized that a true national crew would have a better chance internationally than a 5434 Irwin, letter to the Craies family, December 2, 2007 5435 Irwin, personal correspondence, 2009 club-based crew, but clubs were generally reluctant to let their rowers go to a composite crew for fear of losing them from their club boats. For the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, they selected an eight based on members from the Auckland area with two others invited in from further afield.”5436 With the eight again coached by Eric Craies, the whole New Zealand squad did very well in Perth. Deja Vu The Times of London: “The racing was of vintage quality. In the first event, for eights, England led Australia for the first 500 metres, but after an effort to get on terms at about 1,000 metres, they could not stay with Australia or New Zealand. “New Zealand led [to] 1,800 metres in a tight race with Australia, with challenge and counter-challenge from 1,500 metres. The struggle finally resolved itself in a win for Australia in a Games record time of 5min. 53.4sec. by two feet over New Zealand, with England several lengths astern. “The finish was reminiscent of the 1950 Games’ finish when Australia defeated New Zealand by a foot.”5437 The Kiwis also won Silver Medals in the coxless-pairs and doubles, and single sculler Jim Hill, fourth in Rome in 1960, rowed to a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal. Rusty Robertson The Times of London: “In the coxed- fours, England were no match for fit and well-coordinated combinations from New Zealand and Australia. The race was another splendid tussle between Australia 5436 Popplewell, op. cit. 5437 English Crews Excel in Rowing Finals, The Times of London, November 28, 1962 1502
