SAILING Ian Clingan Joins ISA Olympic Team as Development Coach

• ISA appoints ISA Development Coach
• Ian Clingan joins ISA Olympic team as Development Coach
• ISA invests in Development Coach for Olympic campaigners

The ISA announced the appointment of Ian Clingan as their ISA Development Coach. Primarily Clingan will be responsible for coaching the Laser Radial Girls currently competing on the Olympic circuit, although he will also have a management role with the ISA Development Sailors.

The 35 year old brings a wealth of experience to this new role. Significantly for the last nine years Clingan has worked with the RYA. He was a senior member of their successful coaching team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and counts World and European medallists on his track record.

James O'Callaghan ISA Performance Director commented
"Securing Ian from such a strong sailing team is a real boost for our sailors and coaching panel. His coaching CV is hugely impressive and we are confident the success he had with Great Britain will be replicated by Ireland."

Clingan got off to a great start as he coached Annalise Murphy to victory at the recent Europa Cup in The Netherlands (15th - 17th May 2009). Murphy beat 77 other sailors in this highly competitive 14 nation fleet to take 1st place overall in the Laser Radial class.

The appointment of a senior coach to the ISA Performance Programme is just one of many initiatives embraced since the ISA conducted their Beijing Review, with the athletes and coaches involved in the last four year Olympic cycle.

O'Callaghan concluded:
"Good coaching is essential if our sailors are to maximise their potential. The next challenge is to raise enough money in the system to enable us to recruit more high quality personnel like Ian."