Strong performances by our sweep oarsmen, including rousing wins in the eights on both days, helped hosts Ireland to a fine overall performance in the Coupe de la Jeunesse, a European junior championship, at Farran Wood, Inniscarra, Co Cork, yesterday.
Britain won the overall team prize, but Ireland were pipped by a single point (191 to 190) for second by France. Ireland finished second in the men's event and joint third in the women's.
On two very contrasting days weather-wise - yesterday's misty rain succeeding Saturday's hot sunshine which showed the lake in all its glory - the pattern for the Irish was almost identical with fine performances by our sweep oarsmen succeeded by lesser showings by our scullers and women.
That Ireland won six of the possible eight men's sweep rowing events on offer is to say the least is a credit to the organisational and motivational powers of Irish manager Seb Peeters. The 27-year-old wants the success to be carried on further, with stronger structures to be put in place so that the talent is well used at under-23 and senior levels: "We have to do something about this," he said.
Yesterday's finals session had opened in spectacular fashion for Ireland with wins for Irish the men's crews in the first three races. Peeters had rejigged the coxed four crew by putting Hugh Lynch into the stroke seat and Eoin Murphy in at bow and they opened the session with a relatively easy win.
But the next two races provided plenty of excitement for spectators, with the photo finish camera proving invaluable. Only two hundredths of a second separated second to fourth in the coxless four final, with the Netherlands and Switzerland just pushing Britain out of the medal places.
The next race, the men's coxless pair, was even better, with Cork's Clifford Hayes and Carlow's Niall Oliver coming behind in the last 70 metres to edge out Italy by 0.17 of a second for the gold medal. Both days ended with stirring displays by Ireland's men's eights, who yesterday pulled away over the last 500 metres to win after having it easier on Saturday. The second final on Saturday had also produced a highlight for the home fans, with the Skibbereen-powered coxless four taking gold; but the sculling crews generally found the standard at international level too strong.
The women's crews also found the going difficult, although Offaly's Niamh Ni Cheillaichair did take third place in the single scull on Saturday and fourth yesterday.
Lightweight scullers Derek Holland and Niall O'Toole all but secured their selection for the Irish team for the World Championships when they finished fourth in the double scull final yesterday in the Copenhagen regatta, after a similar placing on Saturday. "They had a great day yesterday," said Director of Coaching Thor Nilsen. A bug which affected the Irish rowers caused Tony O'Connor to suspend the pair's efforts on Saturday, but they had an easy win yesterday. Single sculler Sam Lynch also did well, with fourth place in heavyweight company both days. But the women's lightweight double of Ruth Doyle and Vanessa Lawrenson did not have a good weekend and their World Championship chances seem to have gone.
