ROWING: IRELAND'S international team will get a little taster for the Olympics this weekend – and some hot competition as well.
The team are staying at the 2012 Olympic accommodation at Royal Holloway, while the men’s crews will compete at Marlow Regatta at Dorney Lake (the Olympic venue), and the women take on Henley Women’s Regatta.
But while the talents of this elite group go on show in Britain this weekend, the continuing struggle by Irish clubs to form competitive adult crews will be evident both at Athlone regatta tomorrow and in the entry for Henley Royal Regatta, released yesterday and featuring one of the smallest Irish contingents in years.
Athlone, with an entry of 326 crews, runs from 8am until 6pm, but it is primarily made up of junior athletes; there will be no senior or intermediate eight races, and the men’s senior four entry comprises just two crews.
At Marlow and Women’s Henley, however, Ireland can bask in some serendipitous planning.
The Ireland backroom team opted to go this route rather than compete at the World Cup in Hamburg this weekend: the move looks inspired now that a number of international teams, including Britain, have decided to miss out on the World Cup because of the recent e-coli outbreak, and are casting about to find competition between now and the third World Cup next month.
At Women’s Henley, Portora teenager Holly Nixon joins senior internationals Éimear Moran, Lisa Dilleen and Sanita Puspure in a quadruple scull, while Puspure and Dilleen reform the double which made the final at the first World Cup in Munich.
Siobhán McCrohan and Claire Lambe form a second double, and McCrohan is entered in the lightweight single scull.
Ireland performance director Martin McElroy said under-23 athlete Sarah Dolan would have come into the mix but she is getting over an injury.
The men’s crews at Marlow also feature a quadruple, two doubles and a single, with Anthony English competing in the single and teaming up with Jonathan Mitchell in a double scull. Mark O’Donovan and Michael Maher form what could be a very competitive double.
Ireland’s best hopes at Henley Royal Regatta may centre on the Visitors’ Cup for club fours.
NUIG have a strong record in this event and their combination crew with “old boys’ club” Gráinne Mhaol will be among the favourites.
However, UCD’s crew of Gearóid Duane, Dave Neale, Seán Jacob and Finbarr Manning is big and powerful and should also be in the mix.
The official entry list also features a second UCD Visitors’ crew and an eight in the Ladies’ Plate, but neither will compete, according to coach Pat McDonagh.
Trinity and Queen’s have entered student eights in the Temple Cup, with Trinity also entered in the Prince Albert for student fours, while Queen’s have a quadruple scull in the Prince of Wales.
Monika Dukarska of Killorglin, who is set to compete tomorrow in Athlone, is entered the Princess Grace for women’s single scullers, alongside the likes of Mirka Knapkova and Alexandra Tsiavou, two of the best scullers in the world.
MARLOW REGATTA (Rowing Ireland entries, Saturday): Quadruple: N Kenny, J Ryan, S O’Driscoll, P Hanily. Doubles: J Mitchell, A English; M O’Donovan, M Maher. Single Scull: A English.
HENLEY WOMEN’S REGATTA (Rowing Ireland entries, Saturday, Sunday): Quadruple: E Moran, L Dilleen, H Nixon, S Puspure. Doubles: Dilleen, Puspure; C Lambe, S McCrohan. Lightweight Single: S McCrohan.
HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA – Irish competitors:
Temple Cup (Eights, Student): Trinity, Queen’s. Visitors’ Cup (Coxless Fours, club and university): NUIG/Grainne Mhaol; UCD. Prince of Wales Cup (Quadruple Sculls, Club and University): Queen’s. Prince Albert (Coxed Fours, Student): Trinity. Silver Goblets (Pairs, Open): P Chambers, K Emery. Diamond Sculls (Single Scull, Open): A Campbell. Princess Royal Challenge Cup (Women’s Single Scull, Open): M Dukarska (Killorglin RC).
