ROWING: Selection of Irish Rowing Crews for Beijing finalised

04 Aug 2008

The Irish Amateur Rowing Union has announced the composition of both crews they have nominated to the Olympic Council of Ireland for the Beijing Games.

The Irish lightweight men's four (LM4-) that secured Olympic qualification at the final Olympic Qualifying regatta in Poland recently remains unchanged; Cathal Moynihan, Gearoid Towey, Richard Archibald and Paul Griffin will race at the Games. Richard Coakley will travel to Beijing as the spare man for the boat.

The heavyweight men's four (M4-) that secured Olympic qualification at last year's World Championships sees two changes from the crew that raced in the recent World Cup series. Jonno Devlin and Sean Casey who raced in a heavyweight pair this season come into the middle of the Irish boat for Beijing, Sean O'Neill switches to the stroke seat in place of Alan Martin, and Cormac Folan switches to the bow seat in place of James Wall. Alan Martin has been selected to travel to the Beijing as the spare man for the boat, while James Wall; the youngest of the six misses out.

Both Irish crews are in the middle of their final training camps ahead of the Games. Under coach John Holland the lightweight four (LM4-) are working out of Varese in Italy, with the heavyweight four (M4-) finalising their preparations in St.Moritz, Switzerland under their coach Harald Jahrling.

Both Irish crews will travel to Beijing on July 27th where they will be based in the Olympic Village. The 2008 Olympic regatta will be held at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on the side of the Chaobi river from August 9-17th.
Ends.

Issued on behalf of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union by the Irish Sports Council

For more information:
Sinéad McElroy, Irish Sports Council, 01-8608804, smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie

Irish Crews for Olympic regatta
Lightweight Men's Four (LM4-)

  • Cathal Moynihan (Neptune)
  • Gearoid Towey (Fermoy)
  • Richard Archibald (Lady Victoria BC)
  • Paul Griffin (Muckross)

Spare man: Richard Coakley (Skibbereen)

 

Heavyweight Men's Four (M4-)

  • Cormac Folan (NUIG)
  • Sean Casey (Muckross)
  • Jonno Devlin (Oxford Brookes BC)
  • Sean O'Neill (St. Michaels)

Spare man: Alan Martin (NUIG)

Images: Stock racing pics and headshots of the crews are available reproduction fee free from Sportsfile www.sportsfile.com

Websites to watch:
www.worldrowing.com
http://en.beijing2008.cn/