ROWING: Irish Rowing team for final OIympic qualifying regatta announced

An Irish rowing team of three boats will race in the final Olympic qualifying regatta, in Poznan, Poland beginning on Sunday next (15th June) in a bid to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing.

The lightweight men’s four (LM4-) of Paul Griffin, Richard Archibald, Gearoid Towey and Cathal Moynihan, the lightweight men’s double (LM2x) of Eugene and Richard Coakley, and the heavyweight men’s pair (M2-) of Sean Casey and Jonno Devlin all face the tall order of having to finish inside the top two in their respective classes, if they are to secure a starting berth in Beijing. The majority of Olympic qualifying spots were won at the World Championships last year.

The men’s lightweight four (LM4-) sees one change from the crew that raced a fortnight ago at the last World Cup in Lucerne. In a change based on form Killarney’s Cathal Moynihan comes into the bow seat for Eugene Coakley, who moves into the lightweight double alongside his younger brother Richard. Twelve crews are entered for the lightweight four with just two qualifying spots available. The Irish quartet raced well at the previous two World Cup regattas in Lucerne and Munich with Germany the only other non qualified boat finishing ahead of them on both occasions. However, the Serbian, Spanish, Greek and Czech crews are all set to be right up there when the places are decided in the final, on Wednesday.

The men’s heavyweight pair (M2-) of Sean Casey and Jonno Devlin placed ninth at the last World Cup regatta in Lucerne a fortnight ago; an improvement of ten places for this new combination on their first outing in Munich. There are thirteen crews entered in their boat class for just two qualifying spots. However, in finishing ninth a fortnight ago the Irish pairing were fourth of those non qualified boats racing. The non qualified Canadian pair actually won gold in Lucerne, so it is a field filled with quality pairs.

The lightweight men’s double (LM2x) of Eugene and Richard Coakley face into the biggest field in Poznan; there are seventeen crews competing for just two Olympic qualifying spots. As a new unit this Irish double will face a stiff challenge to qualify.

After the qualifying regatta concludes on Wednesday (18th June) there will be a rest day before the final leg of the Rowing World Cup gets underway in Poznan. The heavyweight men’s four (M4-); the Irish boat already qualified for the Olympics will race at that regatta along with a number of additional Irish boats.
Ends.
Issued on behalf of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union by the Irish Sports Council
 
For Further Information:
Sinéad McElroy, Press Officer to the Irish team, Irish Sports Council; 01-8608804 or 087-6338512 smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie
 
Please note:
*Pictures of the Irish crews in action at the qualifier will be provided reproduction fee free to your picture desk by Sportsfile www.sportsfile.com 01-4547400

For competition schedule, live results and commentary visit www.worldrowing.com
 
Irish team for Final Olympic Qualifying Regatta
Poznan, Poland June 15th – 18th

 M2- Heavyweight Men’s Pair
Sean Casey (Muckross)
Jonno Devlin (Oxford Brookes BC)
 
LM4- Lightweight Men’s Four
Paul Griffin (Muckross)
Richard Archibald (Lady Victoria BC)
Gearoid Towey (Fermoy)
Cathal Moynihan (Neptune)

LM2x Lightweight Men's Double Sculls

Eugene Coakley (Skibbereen)

Richard Coakley (Skibbereen)