On a cool Saturday afternoon in April the opportunity was taken to present four legacy medals to our earlier representatives. This event coincided with the West End masters group training weekend on the Wairoa River, Bethlehem, near Tauranga, and the legacy medal presentation was timed for when the rowers came off the water.
Hosting the occasion was actually one of the "to-be" recipients, Gary Reid, in his house which occupies a prime spot on the riverbank. President of Rowing NZ, Bill Falconer, and past president, Tony Popplewell, officiated at the function.
The recipients were: David Molesworth, Max Larsen and Tom Reid and Gary Reid. Honoring father and son, Tom and Gary, at the function was unique and timely, but as Tom had deceased his medal was collected by his wife, Margaret, so mother and son it had to be.
David and Tom were a successful coxless pair and double scull combination in New Zealand in the 1960's and after having rowed in the noteworthy time trial on Lake Karapiro in 1964, took themselves off to Europe to race in the European Championships to enhance their prospects for selection to the Tokyo Olympic Games. Unfortunately it was not deemed successful enough for selection. Max was in the eight which made the eights A final at the first World Championships in 1966, and Gary finished in seventh position at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984.
Another successful presentation of medals to acknowledge the success of these oarsmen in the 1960's and 1984.
