ROWING Round-up: Sinead Jennings (28) and Eamonn Joyce (22) are at different stages in their athletic careers, but both may be linked this season by an appreciation of the opportunities afforded by the new Irish coaching regime.
Jennings took up the sport late and was extraordinarily successful early in her career. Super-fit and mentally very strong - if very raw in terms of technique - she became world lightweight single sculling champion in 2001.
However, the years since have been characterised by an unsuccessful quest to be part of the only Olympic-class boat available to a woman in her class, the lightweight double scull.
Some senior rowing figures expressed doubt as to whether a sculler with such an idiosyncratic style could ever find success in a crew boat.
New Ireland coach Harald Jahrling disagrees strongly. "That is very disrespectful to a good athlete who has been number one in Ireland for a number of years," he said yesterday.
Jahrling, who had a good turn-out for his first coaching session with the elite athletes at wild and windy Blessington last weekend, sees no reason why Jennings cannot form a double. Her technique is not perfect, but can be worked on. "Some things she does really well and some things she must improve on.
"In the time trial in two weeks' time in Cork and the selection regattas (scheduled for April and May) we will have a double," Jahrling says. "It will be the best two scullers on the water."
By 2006 at the latest he expects a competitive double to have emerged.
The closing date for entries for the time trial is on Monday, and it is a "mandatory" event for seniors with ambitions of representing Ireland this season. But Jahrling is not about to let inflexibility scupper his plans. Rowers with valid reasons for not being able to take part can stay in the loop.
Which is where Cambridge student Joyce comes in. Although the official announcement has still to be made, it is understood the big Corkman is set to row with the college's second-string crew, Goldie, in the Boat Race at the end of next month.
While commitment to British events was not considered a valid reason for missing Irish selection events in recent years, Jahrling is easy with it as long as he is informed.
"I got an email from him. He needs to do that. There are always extenuating circumstances - as I call them - why people can't do certain things. If he's in the Boat Race, he's in the Boat Race."
Joyce's home county is the focus for action on the water tomorrow. The Cork Head of the River, from the Custom House to Blackrock Castle, has a strong southern representation.
