ROWING: Greece has fallen in love with one foreign coach recently, and when their sole rowing representatives at the Olympic Games take to the water in a month they, too, will have a non-national mentor - Irishman John Holland.
The 57-year-old, who coached the Ireland lightweight four that came within a second-and-a-half of a medal in Atlanta, has brought the Greek lightweight double scull of Vasileios Polymeros and Nikolaos Skiathitis to a standard where they could be contenders for a medal in Schinias next month.
They surprised many by making the final of the last World Cup regatta in Lucerne, finishing last after a poor row.
Holland intends to return to his full-time base in Ireland after the Games.
He has been involved in coaching in UCD, and said yesterday he will apply for the new full-time position which has just become vacant there.
Tony O'Connor, part of that Atlanta lightweight four, and in recent years assistant coach to the Ireland team, is going a different direction after the Games. He is getting married in September and emigrating to New Zealand in November.
O'Connor has been heavily involved in coaching the Ireland lightweight four which is one of Ireland's best chances of a medal next month.
As an oarsman, he won a world championship gold medal in the lightweight pair with Gearóid Towey in 2001, and also has also garnered two silver (1996 and '97) and two bronze (1994 and '99) medals.
He has already lined up a job in Christ's College in Christchurch, where he will teach and head up the rowing programme.
O'Connor's wife-to-be, biomedical scientist Rachel Purcell, knows the sport from the inside: she was part of the Neptune coxless four which won the senior title at last weekend's national championships.
Purcell is part of a big Ireland team for next weekend's Home Internationals in Nottingham.
The Coupe de la Jeunesse, a European Junior Championship, also takes place next weekend, and will be a further indicator of Ireland's strength-in-depth in the sport.
On the water, the national championships were successful, but off it the organisation had a number of gaping holes.
Is there another major sport which would stage its premier showcase in a remote location with virtually no commentary nor press facilities?
The Irish Amateur Rowing Union will name a new chief executive in the next week or so. He won't be short of things to do.
IRELAND TEAMS - Coupe de la Jeunesse (Ravenna, Italy, July 24th, 25th): Junior Men: M Allum, M Ewing (both Methodist College); D O'Byrne, D Barry (both St Michael's); J Cormickan, P Hawkins, (both NUIG); M Carroll, F Colleran, B Dilleen; cox: R Sweeney (All St Joseph's, Galway).
A coxed four, coxless four and coxless pair will be entered from the selected rowers.
Quadruple scull: G Ward, Quirke (both Commercial); L Molloy (Coláiste Iognaid), P O'Brien (Neptune).
Junior Women - Coxless Pair: S Murphy, G Fleming (both Cork BC).
Single Scull: O Hayes (Skibbereen).
Home Internationals (Nottingham, July 24th): Men, Senior - Sweep Group: C Folan, P Giblin, M Stephens, A Martin, C Glynn (all NUIG); J Forde, K O'Connor (both Lady Elizabeth); J Forde (Galway); K McCarthy (Skibbereen).
Sculling Group: D Meanley, J Armstrong (both Lady Victoria); C Nolan, C Collis (both Commercial); D Wallace (Fermoy).
Junior - Sweep Group: J McLoughlin, R Harty, M Burke, N Hogan, N Farrell, V Ruane (all St Joseph's); D Power, J Barry, N Griffin (all St Michael's); P Egan (NUIG); M Busby (Methodist College).
Sculling Group: B Clarke, F Groome (both Commercial); B Morgan (Presentation College); D Meehan (Athlunkard); R O'Connor (Offaly).
Women, Senior - Sweep Group: D Wall, S Mooney, R Purcell, P Reddy, C McGee (all Neptune); N Fitzsimon, L Ronayne, K McCullough (all Trinity); C Ni Cheilleachair (Offaly).
Sculling Group: E Moran, J Moran, C Ni Cheilleachair, N Ní Cheilleachair (all Offaly); H Walshe (UCD); O Duddy (Queen's University).
Junior - Sweep Group: E Comer, R McNena, L Tobin, C Jennings, C Phillips (all Tribesmen); E Kelly, S Kennedy (both Colaiste Iognaid); P Griffin (Cork BC), R Nolan (Commercial), C O'Donovan (Skibbereen); P Hanlon (Cork BC).
Sculling Group: S O'Connor, S Lambe (Commercial); H Shackleton, E Spencer (King's Hospital); S McCrohan (Tribesmen); A Redmond (Clonmel), S Dowling (Fermoy).
