This is a crucial weekend for the determined group of six women's lightweight scullers who are seeking to represent Ireland at the World Cup regattas and World Championships this season with the eventual aim of competing in the Olympic Games in Sydney next year.
The small window of opportunity allowed by Olympic classification means that the focus is on the lightweight double scull, and tomorrow at Blessington the six will fight it out in trials to take the first step on the road to Sydney by being nominated in that boat to represent Ireland at the first World Cup regatta at Hazewinkel in Belgium at the end of the month.
The six, all from the Commercial club in Dublin, are Ruth Doyle (who has relocated from England), Siobhan Forman, Ailis Holohan, Vanessa Lawrenson, Audrey Phelan and Meadhbh Terry. Just one illustration of how seriously these athletes take the challenge is that Lawrenson, who has had success as a heavyweight sculler, has pushed hard to make the 59kg limit. The average in the boat has to be 57kg.
One point of interest is that among the coaches set to attend tomorrow is perhaps the best known of Irish scullers, Sean Drea, who won a silver medal in the World championships as a single sculler in 1975. Drea has returned to Ireland from the United States.
The two domestic regattas fixed for tomorrow are at opposite ends of the country: Bantry, with 10 races scheduled, and the bigger Portadown regatta with 66. The Northern event brings the strong Ulster junior crews into contention, and club captain Kevin McDonagh promises "a thoroughly social event," with a band, lunch and complimentary wine!
