ROWING Irish Rowers Compete in Eton World Cup...

A much changed Irish rowing Team from last year's Olympic squad will compete in the first leg of the 2005 Bearing Point Rowing World Cup in Eton, starting on Thursday 26th, under new Head Coach Harald Jahrling.

Seven Irish boats will compete in this the first chance to test the 2005 field- five in lightweight categories and the remaining 2 in heavyweight categories. Former World champion Sinead Jennings will race in Ireland's first lightweight single skulls (LW1x), Siobhan Jacob of the Commercial club in Dublin will compete in the other. Twenty four year old Niamh NiCheilleachair will partner the more experienced oarswoman Heather Boyle in the Lightweight double skull (LW2x).

There are twelve men on the lightweight side of the Irish squad and two lightweight fours (LM4-) will compete in this first leg. Dave Wallace, Athens Olympian Eugene Coakley, his younger brother Richard and Diarmuid MacColgain will be in the number one boat with Johnny Devitt, Andrew Coleman, Kenny McDonald and Daniel O’Dowd in the second.

This number one boat is much changed from the crew that raced in the Olympic final in Athens last summer with Eugene Coakley the only survivor. His three Athens colleagues miss this first leg for a variety of reasons- Niall O'Toole was troubled by illness during the build up and missed out on selection as a result, Richard Archibald had exam commitments but will feature later in the Summer as will Paul Griffin who was hampered by injury and is working to regain race fitness. Skibbereen club man Timmy Harnedy, who was also on the Olympic squad is in the midst of exams and will return to the team when they conclude.

Following Sam Lynch’s decision to move up a weight category he is currently working on a specific strength and conditioning programme this year and will return to competition next season. Gearoid Towey who partnered Sam in the lightweight men’s double in Athens is on a year off pursuing his goal of rowing the Atlantic for charity and will return to the Irish set-up next season.

In a change from last year Ireland send two heavyweight crews to Eton. Marc Stephens and John Forde make up the pair (M2-) and Cormac Folan, Sean Jacob, Sean Casey and Alan Martin are in the four (M4-).

It is heartening to see fresh blood emerging this year under the guidance of former Australian Women’s coach Harald Jahrling. It demonstrates the depth of talent that is currently in Irish rowing and this World Cup series will enable many of this promising squad to gain some top level international experience.

Harald Jahrling was appointed Irish Head coach following the departure of Thor Nielsen after the Olympic games. Harald, a former Olympic Champion for Germany in 1976 and 1980, initially coached in Magdeburg and moved to Australia in 1990. During the 90s he coached medal winners in both men and women and in 2000 was put in charge of the Australian women for the Olympic cycle. His crews won seven gold and several silver and bronze at senior level.

Sinead McElroy of the ISC will act as Media Liaison Officer to the Irish team for the World Cup series and the 2005 World Championships in September and can be contacted for interviews/ results at smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie

For live results and competition schedules see worldrowing.com

KEY DATES

Bearing Point Rowing World Cup

World Cup 1 Eton, UK 26th – 28th May

Thursday 26th Heats at 9.30am

Friday 27th SemiFinals at 9.30am

Sat 28th Finals start at 10.15am

World Cup 2, Munich, Germany 17th – 19th June

World Cup 3, Lucerne, Switzerland 8th – 10th July

2005 ROWING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, GIFU, JAPAN 28th Aug-4th Sept.