Stroke Of Bad Luck As Water Rats Lift Oars
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday June 8, 2000
Wanted: two thieves in the vicinity of the Yarra River, carrying a pair of high-tech, Olympic-standard oars.
Yes, you are still reading the Herald sport section. We post this message on behalf of Olympic rowers James Tomkins and Drew Ginn, who, after six months of injuries and challenges to their men's pair crown, have had a set of oars stolen.
And while Victorian Institute of Sport coach Noel Donaldson believes the blades are replaceable, he remains at a loss as to explain how they were ``lifted".
``It happened last month, between 8.30am and 10am, outside our training base on the Yarra," he said. ``How the hell they've taken them, concealed them and left the scene without anybody noticing is beyond me.
``It should only cause the boys a little inconvenience they were insured, and the loss will only come to about $1,000 or so but after what they have been through over the last few months, you'd think they were due a break."
The injuries and setbacks had many doubting the world champion crew would be in contention to compete in September.
But over the past three weeks there have been promising signs, Ginn having returned to full-time training after recovering from a persistent back ailment.
The pair must now overcome a challenge from Rob Scott and David Weightman at a World Cup event in Lucerne, Switzerland, next month to secure a place in the Olympic squad.
``By Lucerne, they should be close enough to full fitness, although I guess the big thing against them is how much training time they missed because of Drew's injury," said Donaldson.
``Either way, there will be no excuses. The best crew should be through to the Olympic squad. We're confident."
Even without their first-choice oars, it would seem.
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald
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