THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT FISA 1983 Video New Zealand Men’s Eight 1983 World Champion, Regattabahn Wedau Duisburg 1 NZL 5:34.40, 2 GDR 5:35.9, 3 AUS 5:38.0, 4 URS 5:38.1, 5 FRA 5:39.3, 6 TCH 5:40.2 Bow Nigel Atherfold 6’2” 189cm 196lb. 89kg, 2 George Keys 6’4” 193cm 209lb. 95kg, 3 Barrie Mabbott 6’5” 195cm 198lb. 90kg, 4 Chris White 6’3” 190cm 207lb. 94kg, 5 Roger White-Parsons 6’5” 196cm 198lb. 90kg, 6 Dave Rodger 6’4” 192cm 203lb. 92kg, 7 Herb Stevenson 6’3” 191cm 192lb. 87kg, Stroke Mike Stanley 6’0” 182cm 187lb. 85kg, Coxswain Andrew Hay • ‘thinking 10 strokes’ at 1:30 out to adjust rating to 37, our optimum racing beat, and to look for length and togetherness. • at 2:30 out, a 30-stroke maximum push off the legs. • at 4:00 out, another big 10. • at 1,500, begin wind for home. • at 250 metres to go, wind it up. “I will always remember how ‘fresh’ we all felt at the 1,000m mark, sitting tall, moving as one, feeling powerful off the footstretcher and relaxed on the recovery, in total control over the last 500m.”6586 Mahon: “The crew went to the start for the final very relaxed. Once again they were able to row near the front, developing confidence. The ‘move’ was again accomplished with ‘commitment,’ the break made of the field and the race won. We hadn’t even been able to try our final ‘planned’ move. Our second 1,000 metres had been faster than the first.”6587 New Zealand won going away. Never concerned about the fast-starting Americans, the Kiwis keyed their move off the Soviets. After leading through 1,000 meters, the U.S. crew eventually faded to fourth. The 1983 Team With a year to go before the Los Angeles Games, Harry Mahon proposed an interesting strategy, but it was never implemented. Mahon: “The stated aim of the NZARA is to win the eights at the 1984 Olympics. This is possible – but the route to be taken to achieve this objective needs careful consideration. I am of the opinion that our best route is to row in the other events in 1983, keeping the pressure on the opposition 6586 Brook, op. cit. 6587 Mahon, op. cit., p. 4 1827
