ROWING:In the coming weeks Rowing Ireland will make two crucial appointments: the high performance director will head up the international programme, while the chief executive will run domestic rowing.

Fifteen applicants from Ireland and beyond tossed their name into the ring for the high performance post. The shortlist which was chosen at the weekend is notable for the lack of some of the best-known Irish candidates. The first-round interviews will take place next week in Dublin. The Rowing Ireland interview panel will have a new edge as acting chief executive Frank Coghlan served as group human resources director for the giant Musgrave chain. He says the calibre of candidates for the HPD job is good and it will be a two-way process – candidates will also want to know that this is a role with sufficient financial resources from the Irish Sports Council. “We have been told that we can operate on the assumption that there will be funds available to support a high performance director and a high performance programme,” Coghlan says.

The Corkman will step down as acting chief executive – which he has been doing on a voluntary basis — by the end of the year. Applications for the full-time post must be in by this day fortnight (October 12th).

On the water, the Cork Sculling Ladder time trials are set for the Marina from 8am until 1.30pm on Sunday. The Dublin Sculling Ladder is set for Islandbridge on Saturday, October 13th.