CREW

As he laid his plans for Dartmouth's third annual trip to Alabama's Lake Martin for spring training, Peter Gardner decided that it was time to gamble.

The dean of American college rowing coaches, Gardner chose to break up the seven oarsmen who had returned from an undefeated season of cup racing in 1970 plus the best performances ever for Dartmouth's heavyweight crews in the Eastern Sprint and Intercollegiate Rowing Association championship races.

"We were hoping for the best and we got it," said Gardner, as he prepared his crew for the sprint season.

Gardner's objective in splitting his boat was to sustain morale among the newcomers to the heavyweight scene and also promote competition for the seats in the varsity shell.

For the Kowaliga Cup race on Lake Martin, Gardner put four veterans—Bill Pickard, Dennis Bell, John French, and George Buesing (installed as the stroke)—in his 'Blue' boat.

He put Terry Adams (the stroke for the past two years who became a father five days before the Kowaliga race), Deneys Purcell, and seasoned coxswain John Eaton in the 'Red' shell.

Then he crossed his fingers.

It was an unnecessary gesture. The Blues and Reds finished 1-2 ahead of Columbia, Jacksonville, Purdue and Alabama (in that order). More important, it created the challenge of competition for seats that Gardner had been seeking.

On the eve of the Bill Cup Regatta against Rutgers and Boston University, the first race of the regular season, everyone except Adams (who missed the fall training period plus some of the spring trip and is a bit behind in conditioning) had returned to the varsity shell.

"We couldn't have a healthier situa- tion," said Gardner. We have a solid group of oarsmen who realize that someone is ready to challenge for an oar at any time."

Three newcomers who have tasted the wine of varsity rowing are sophomore Charlie Arnold and two juniors, Dave Thurston and Bob Olson. Thurston has held the bow oar through the early workouts while Olson and Arnold have been at three and four. One of them may lose his seat to Adams (who probably won't get back into the stroke slot since Buesing has been doing an outstanding job).

A couple of years ago, Gardner had serious problems of manpower. Not anymore. Even though there are seven seniors (including Eaton) manning oars this spring, it appears that the wave of success for Dartmouth's heavies has yet to crest.

Crew Coach Peter Gardner, togged out for heavy weather, surveys the river ashe gets his heavyweight oarsmen organized for practice on the Connecticut.