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Evers-Swindell twins defend Olympic rowing title at Beijing

Months before the Beijing Olympics, 16 August 2008 was being touted as ‘Super Saturday’, the day New Zealand would win a swag of medals, several of them golden. As Kiwis salivated over the prospects of their rowing squad, few expected blond identical twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell to successfully defend the double sculls title they had won in Athens in 2004.

It was not just that no duo had ever won this event twice (though Germany’s Kathrin Boron had been a member of winning crews in 1992 and 2000). The Evers-Swindells’ career seemed to have peaked with the third world title they won during New Zealand’s golden hour at the 2005 world championships in Gifu, Japan, when the squad had four victories to top the medal table. While they won bronze and silver respectively at the 2006 and 2007 worlds, by 2008 they were struggling to make the A finals (top six) at major European regattas. Winning their heat at Beijing brought renewed hope.

Couch potatoes watching the final cheered as the Evers-Swindells launched a withering finishing burst, then groaned as they apparently just failed to catch the German scullers. The British were also within centimetres and veteran commentator Peter Montgomery called the New Zealanders in third. By next morning he’d re-recorded his commentary – the Kiwis had won gold by 1/100th of a second.

As Super Saturday wore on, New Zealand won four more medals, the country’s greatest-ever haul on a single day at the Olympics. At the rowing venue, single sculler Mahé Drysdale and the men’s pair of George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle both won bronzes. That evening, cyclist Hayden Roulston came second in the individual pursuit and Valerie Vili (née Adams) triumphed in the shot put.

Image: Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell at Beijing (Stuff)

Lake Karapiro - roadside stories

Today a world-class rowing venue, Lake Karapiro was created in 1947 when the Karapiro hydroelectric dam was completed on the Waikato River. The lake flooded the site of an 1830 battle between two Māori tribes – and the Horahora power station, the first hydroelectric station on the river.

Transcript

Archival audio: An engineer talks about the planning and construction of the Lake Karapiro hydro-electric station.

Narrator: Lake Karapiro is a man-made lake on the Waikato River. The area was flooded in order to create an artificial lake to supply the Lake Karapiro hydroelectric station with water. This power station, along with others constructed on the Waikato River, are key components in New Zealand’s national power grid.

Most of New Zealand’s electricity is produced from hydro-power installations. The Waikato River is New Zealand’s longest, and is perfect for hydro-electricity production because it drops over 300 metres between its source at Lake Taupō and where it reaches the sea, at Port Waikato.

The outbreak of World War Two caused a serious power shortage in New Zealand, which lasted into the 1950s. It led to a government programme to develop water resources, including a massive construction project of eight hydroelectric power stations and artificial lakes along the Waikato River.

Work began on the Karapiro dam in 1940 and it was scheduled to take three years to build. However, because of wartime shortages [of labour and material], as well as problems controlling water seepage, it took until 1947 for the 700 workers to complete the dam.

The new lake created by the dam flooded an important Māori site which gave the lake its name, Karapiro. In the 1820s the Ngāti Maru tribe from the Hauraki Gulf were driven south by Northland’s Ngāpuhi tribe, who possessed muskets. Ngāti Maru were given refuge in the Waikato by the Ngāti Hauā tribe, but tensions soon mounted between them.

This tension culminated in the famous battle of Taumatawīwī in 1830. Victorious Ngāti Hauā chief Te Waharoa ordered that the bodies of his dead warriors be burned in case Ngāti Maru should return and counter-attack. The cremation took place on rocks beside the Waikato River. The name Karapiro consists of the Maori word ‘kara’, meaning rock, and ‘piro’, meaning putrid smell.

Another site to be flooded when Lake Karapiro was created was Horahora station, a small hydroelectric power station. Opened in 1913, it was the first power station to be built on the Waikato River. It was constructed by the Waihi Gold Mining Company to help power their gold mining operations in the Coromandel.

When Queen Elizabeth visited Karapiro in 1954 during her coronation tour of New Zealand, Karapiro’s generators were the largest in the country.

The creation of Lake Karapiro has had a big spin-off for recreational boating enthusiasts. It is a world-class rowing venue and ideal for many other water sports, including yachting, powerboating and water-skiing. In 1950 Lake Karapiro hosted the Empire Games rowing events, and [it] was the site of the rowing world championships in 1978 and 2010.

Today, Lake Karapiro is rated as a world-class rowing facility and has been the base for some of our leading Olympic rowers, including gold-medal winners Rob Waddell and the Evers-Swindell twins.

Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2011. Part of the Roadside Stories series

Archival audio sourced from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives, http://www.soundarchives.co.nz/. Sound files may not be reused without permission from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives (Reference number: D537.1).

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New Zealand’s rowing eight win gold in Munich

Many regard the ‘eights’ as the glamour event at any rowing regatta. In 2008 well-known sports writer Joseph Romanos chose the victory of the 1972 rowing eight as the best team performance by New Zealanders at the Olympics. He described the ‘emphatic’ victory as ‘one of New Zealand’s all-time Olympic highlights’. It was also one of the most-publicised: elderly International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage was so elated by this victory of ‘amateurs’ over ‘professionals’ that he presented the medals himself, and God Defend New Zealand was played at an Olympic medal ceremony for the first time.

The New Zealand crew arrived in Munich as favourites, having won the world title in 1971. Despite their favouritism the Kiwis faced stiff opposition on finals day. East German crews had already won five gold medals that day and the United States had won the eights on eleven of the fifteen occasions on which it had been rowed. In the semi-final the Kiwis were beaten, somewhat surprisingly, by West Germany. They were determined there would be no such upset in the final. Buoyed by the performance of the coxless four, which had won silver earlier in the day, the eights exploded from the starting line. They led by a boat-length after 350 m and surged again to double this advantage by halfway (1000 m). The United States and East Germany reduced the lead to a length with 500 m to go, but the Kiwis won by nearly three seconds from the Americans.

The crew that memorable day was: Trevor Coker, Athol Earl, John Hunter, Tony Hurt, Dick Joyce, Gary Robertson, Wybo Veldman, Lindsay Wilson, Simon Dickie (cox).

Dickie and Joyce had also tasted Olympic success as members of the coxed four that won gold at Mexico City in 1968. Many attributed the success of the team to its outstanding coach, Rusty Robertson.

The achievements of competitors at these games were overshadowed by what became known as the Munich massacre. On 5 September a group of eight Palestinians belonging to the Black September terrorist organisation broke into the Olympic Village and took eleven Israeli athletes, coaches and officials hostage. All the hostages, five of the terrorists and a policeman were killed, most during a botched rescue attempt by West German authorities.

Image: 1972 rowing cartoon

World Championship medallists - rowing in New Zealand

This list of New Zealand’s World Rowing Championship medallists is adapted from Peter Bidwell, Reflections of gold: a celebration of New Zealand rowing, HarperCollins, Auckland, 2010.

1970	St Catharines, Canada	Gill Cawood, Warren Cole, John Hunter, Richard Joyce, Gary Robertson, Dudley Storey, Wybo Veldman, Murray Watkinson, Simon Dickie (cox)	bronze	eight
1974	Lucerne, Switzerland	Ross Blomfield, Trevor Coker, Athol Earl, Tony Hurt, Danny Keane, Alex McLean, Dave Rodger, Lindsay Wilson, Dave Simmons (cox)	bronze	eight
1975	Nottingham, England	Trevor Coker, Ross Collinge, Peter Dignan, Athol Earl, Grant McAuley, Alex McLean, Dave Rodger, Lindsay Wilson, Dave Simmons (cox)	bronze	eight
1977	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Dave Lindstrom, Des Lock, Dave Rodger, Ivan Sutherland	bronze	coxless four
1978	Lake Karapiro, New Zealand	Mark James, Greg Johnston, Dave Lindstrom, Ross Lindstrom, Des Lock, Noel Mills, Dave Rodger, Ivan Sutherland Alan Cotter (cox)	bronze	eight
1979	Bled, Yugoslavia	Tony Brook, Mark James, Peter Jansen, Greg Johnston, Greg Johnston, Tim Logan, Grant McAuley, Conrad Robertson, Robbie Robinson, Alan Cotter (cox)	silver	eight
1982	Lucerne, Switzerland	Tony Brook, George Keys, Les O’Connell, Dave Rodger, Mike Stanley, Herb Stevenson, Chris White, Roger White-Parsons, Andy Hay (cox)	gold	eight
		Stephanie Foster	bronze	single scull
1983	Duisburg, West Germany	Nigel Atherfold, George Keys, Barrie Mabbott, Dave Rodger, Mike Stanley, Herb Stevenson, Chris White, Roger White-Parsons, Andy Hay (cox)	gold	eight
		Greg Johnston, Les O’Connell, Conrad Robertson, Keith Trask, Brett Hollister (cox)	gold	coxed four
1986	Nottingham, England	Nigel Atherfold, Bruce Holden, Greg Johnston, Chris White, Andrew Bird (cox)	silver	coxed four
		Robyn Clarke, Stephanie Foster	bronze	double scull
1989	Bled, Yugoslavia	Philippa Baker, Linda de Jong	silver	lightweight double scull
		Campbell Clayton-Greene, Bill Coventry, Alistair Mackintosh, Ian Wright	bronze	coxless four
1990	Lake Barrington, Australia	Eric Verdonk	bronze	single scull
1991	Vienna, Austria	Philippa Baker	gold	lightweight single scull
1993	Roudice, Czech Republic	Philippa Baker, Brenda Lawson	gold	double scull
1994	Indianapolis, USA	Philippa Baker, Brenda Lawson	gold	double scull
1995	Tampere, Finland	Murdoch Dryden, Chris McAsey, Andrew Matheson, Chris White, Mike Whittaker (cox)	silver	coxed four
		Philippa Baker, Brenda Lawson	bronze	double scull
1998	Cologne, Germany	Rob Waddell	gold	single scull
1999	St Catharines, Canada	Rob Waddell	gold	single scull
2001	Lucerne, Switzerland	Caroline Evers-Swindell, Georgina Evers-Swindell, Paula Twining, Sonia Waddell	silver	quadruple scull
		Jackie Abraham, Nicky Coles, Kate Robinson, Rochelle Saunders	silver	coxless four
		Caroline Evers-Swindell, Georgina Evers-Swindell,	silver	double scull
2002	Seville, Spain	Caroline Evers-Swindell, Georgina Evers-Swindell,	gold	double scull
2003	Milan, Italy	Caroline Evers-Swindell, Georgina Evers-Swindell,	gold	double scull
2005	Gifu, Japan	Caroline Evers-Swindell, Georgina Evers-Swindell,	gold	double scull
		George Bridgewater, Nathan Twaddle	gold	coxless pair
		Nicky Coles, Juliet Haigh	gold	coxless pair
		Mahé Drysdale	gold	single scull
2006	Eton, England	Mahé Drysdale	gold	single scull
		George Bridgewater, Nathan Twaddle	silver	coxless pair
		Nicky Coles, Juliet Haigh	silver	coxless pair
		Dane Boswell, Steve Cottle, James Dallinger, Paul Gerritson, Daniel Quigley (cox)	bronze	coxed four
		Caroline Evers-Swindell, Georgina Evers-Swindell,	bronze	double scull
		Duncan Grant	gold	lightweight single scull
2007	Munich, Germany	Hamish Bond, James Dallinger, Carl Meyer, Eric Meyer	gold	coxless four
		Mahé Drysdale	gold	single scull
		Duncan Grant	gold	lightweight single scull
		Caroline Evers-Swindell, Georgina Evers-Swindell,	silver	double scull
		George Bridgewater, Nathan Twaddle	silver	coxless pair
2008	Linz, Austria	Duncan Grant	gold	lightweight single scull
2009	Poznań, Poland	Hamish Bond, Eric Murray	gold	coxless pair
		Mahé Drysdale	gold	single scull
		Peter Taylor, Storm Uru	gold	lightweight double scull
		Duncan Grant	gold	lightweight single scull
		Rebecca Scown, Emma-Jane Feathery	bronze	coxless pair
2010	Lake Karapiro, New Zealand	Hamish Bond, Eric Murray	gold	coxless pair
		Juliette Haigh, Rebecca Scown	gold	coxless pair
		Nathan Cohen, Joseph Sullivan	gold	double scull
		Mahé Drysdale	silver	single scull
		James Lassche, Graham Oberlin-Brown	silver	lightweight pair
		Louise Ayling	silver	lightweight single scull
		Hamish Burson, David Eade, Jade Uru, Simon Watson	bronze	coxless four
		Emma Twigg	bronze	single scull
		Peter Taylor, Storm Uru	bronze	lightweight double scull
		Danny McBride	bronze	adaptive single scull
2011	Bled, Slovenia	Hamish Bond, Eric Murray	gold	coxless pair
		Juliette Haigh, Rebecca Scown	gold	coxless pair
		Nathan Cohen, Joseph Sullivan	gold	double scull
		Mahé Drysdale	gold	single scull
		Peter Taylor, Storm Uru	silver	lightweight double scull
		Fiona Bourke, Sarah Gray, Eve Macfarlane, Louise Trappitt	bronze	quadruple scull
		Fi Paterson, Anna Reymer	bronze	double scull
		Emma Twigg	bronze	single scull
		Duncan Grant	bronze	lightweight single scull
2013	Chungju, South Korea	Hamish Bond, Eric Murray	gold	coxless pair
		Fiona Bourke, Zoe Stevenson	silver	double scull
		Emma Twigg	silver	single scull
		James Hunter, James Lassche, Curtis Rapley, Peter Taylor	bronze	lightweight four
		Kayla Pratt, Rebecca Scown	bronze	coxless pair

1978 World Rowing Championships logo

Logo from the 1978 World Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro, near Cambridge. With 30 countries represented, this was then the largest international sports event held in New Zealand.

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Rower William Webb in action

World champion sculler William Webb training on the Whanganui River, about 1907.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library,
Reference: 1/1-016305-G
Photographer: Frank J. Denton
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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Wiri Webb postcard

This postcard was produced after William (‘Wiri’) Webb became the first New Zealander to win the world professional sculling title in 1907.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library,
Reference: Eph-B-POSTCARD-Vol-1-111
Producers: A. D. Willis, publisher. A. E. Watkinson. photo
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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Dick Arnst in a cycle race

Jack Arnst leads a group of cyclists to the finish line in a two-mile scratch race in Nelson, 1905. His brother Dick, on the left, is about to come second.

In 1906 Dick Arnst decided to switch to sculling. The physical and mental requirements of the two sports are similar, although these days athletes usually move in the opposite direction. In 1908 Arnst beat professional sculling’s world champion, fellow New Zealander Billy Webb. He held on to the title for four years.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library,
Reference: 1/2-026608-G
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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Darcy Hadfield

Darcy Hadfield in a single scull, about 1920.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library,
Reference: 1/2-C-22811-F
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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William Webb and Dick Hegglun

Veteran rowers William (Billy) Webb (left) and Dick Hegglun at Karapiro during the 1950 Empire Games. In 1907 Webb became the first New Zealander to win the world professional sculling title.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library,
Reference: 114/124/02-F
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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