Rowing/IARU a.g.m: Two votes, an introduction and an impressive presentation that suggested Ireland may land the World Under-23 Championships in 2005 provided the talking points at the well-attended e.g.m. and a.g.m. of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union in Dublin on Saturday.
The sole motion at the e.g.m., proposing that this year's National Championships be held on two separate weekends, was rejected by 28 votes to 18. Jonny Malloy of Belfast's Lady Victoria Boat Club argued strongly that such a move would impose "huge travel costs" on clubs in Ulster. John Aiken of the Bluecoat Club said Northern clubs might even leave to join the British Amateur Rowing Association.
Ten Munster clubs had proposed the change, and Munster's provincial director Mick O'Callaghan described suggestions that the ARA might sign up Irish clubs as "rubbish" but called for "unity, whatever the decision".
Ironically, despite the strong argument of the Munster bloc that this year's National Championships on July 19th and 20th left the season too short, next year will effectively have an even shorter season. The a.g.m., which followed the e.g.m., accepted a suggestion by O'Callaghan that the 2004 Championships be held on July 9th and 10th, in part to avoid any clash with the World Championships for non-Olympic events and juniors, which start two weeks later.
Although Carrick-on-Shannon have a regatta pencilled in for August and a veterans' event for September, most club members will consider the season over with the championships.
The key vote at the a.g.m. went Munster's way. On a margin of 24 to 19, Denis O'Regan of Monkstown and Cork Harbour defeated Terry McEvoy of Dublin club Neptune for the post of Honorary Secretary. A special presentation was made to outgoing Honorary Secretary, Jimmy Bermingham.
The increasing trend toward professional officers was evidenced by an address by Performance Director Richard Parr, who introduced himself and outlined his plans.
Chief executive Frank Tierney said O'Callaghan, in overseeing the development of the National Rowing Centre in Cork, was doing "a spectacularly good job".
Another progressive note was struck in the address of the president, Frank Durkin, who said "barring disasters we are going to achieve our potential at the (2004) Olympics - and that would be medals".
The accounts of the union show a healthy surplus of €109,413.
Fastest Irish crew home in the Head of the River in London on Saturday were Queen's University's first crew, 23rd in 18 minutes 8.18 seconds, a minute and 3.78 seconds behind winners Leander. Lady Elizabeth were 25th and NUIG 41st.
