THE SPORT OF ROWING and off ourselves. At the moment, the European nations have no idea how we beat them – they can be made to sweat some more by beating them in the coxless- and coxed-fours at Duisburg and doing well in the other events as well. The eight in 1984 would not then be the defending champions. It would be pointless to be World Champion 1982, 1983 and not Olympic Champion 1984 just because it was felt that the title should be defended.”6588 If only . . . Storey: “Between ‘82 and ‘83, there were little or no changes at the business end of the boat and in the middle. Tony Brook retired, and Nigel Atherfold replaced him. Barrie Mabbot came in for Les O’Connell [who moved to stroke of the soon-to-be 1983 World Champion New Zealand Coxed-Four]. “They had won handsomely in ‘82, but they actually got beaten in the heat at Duisburg for the ‘83 year. In that heat, Dave Rodger went back to 4, and Chris White came up to 6 . . . and they lost. It was hardly an argument, but I had a big discussion with Harry. I said, ‘You should not be changing things this late.’ He said, ‘Oh, I think this is going to be right.’ “By the time the repêchage came around, I had convinced him to put it back the way it was. They won the repêchage, won the final.”6589 The 1983 World eights final at Duisburg followed the previous year’s pattern. It was Australia instead of the United States that pushed the pace early, but New Zealand was there to inherit the lead when the Aussies were reeled in by the whole field after 700 meters. The Kiwis cracked the race open in the third 500 and pushed their lead to nearly a 6588 Mahon, op. cit., p. 5 6589 Storey, op. cit. length. Although GDR closed a bit in the final strokes, the win had seemed inevitable since the 1,000. The joy of the New Zealand oarsmen at the medal dock was written on everyone’s faces as the crew looked forward to a possible, even probable Olympic Gold Medal in 1984. The Perfect Rowing Stroke Fellow New Zealand junior coach Tim Richardson: “Harry and I both shared in the incredibly good fortune of coming under the influence of the late W.H. (Bill) Eaddy6590 ONZM, whose simple explanation of the rowing stroke and the connection between water, boat and body in a quick, explosive6591 movement, gave both of us the base from which to work in the quest for the faster boat. Harry’s willingness to innovate and his confidence in his understanding of biomechanics and boat dynamics became the hallmark of the man so many in rowing admire and respect. “In it all, we share one passion – Harry’s passion – rowing and the perfect rowing stroke.”6592 Indeed, perfection became a quest that drove Harry Mahon all his life. Keystrokes, Rowing New Zealand’s newsletter: “It is interesting to note that in his eight seasons with Waikato, their fifteen premier titles have been achieved with a variety of techniques as Harry slowly developed his approach to what moved the boats best.”6593 Harry Mahon: “I didn’t really have much guidance at all. I had rowed, and I 6590 coach of Tauranga Boys’ College in New Zealand. 6591 i.e., instantaneous entry. 6592 www.rowing.org.uk/mahon.html 6593 Rowing the Mahon Way, Keystrokes, April 2005 1828
