Newspaper Article 1969 – Tony Bone

Hawke’s Bay top sculler, Tony Bone, starts out on a training session in his new American-built boat in which he hopes to win the New Zealand title in March.

Bone recently took delivery of the sleek new 27ft boat built specially for him by George Pocock Racing Shells, Seattle.

Bone said shortly before his training session on the Ngaruroro at Clive last night that his old boat was beginning to show signs of wear. “It just might have let me down at a crucial time,” he said.

Tomorrow Bone will race his new boat over a shortened one-mile course at Rotorua. There he will come up against his old rival, Murray Watkinson, the man who beat him in the final of the single sculls at last year’s nationals.

Bone will be one of the star competitors at the Hawke’s Bay regatta on the Clive River on February 1.

The following week he hopes to attend the Auckland chamionships [championships] at Lake Karapiro; the week after it the Tauranga Rowing Club’s regatta, also at Lake Karapiro. Then follows the Wellington regatta.

The nationals will start at Wanganui early in March.

Tomorrow Bone will lead a 15-strong Hawke’s Bay team at Rotorua. Apart from Bone, Ian Condon and Earl Fergus will compete in the single sculls. Fergus will also team with brother Neil in the main doubles.

A novice and youth will also compete with four from Colenso School.