ROWING:Six crews, four of them in Olympic classes, will represent Ireland at the World Championships in Munich, which run for eight days from Sunday week. The regatta is hugely important, as the finishing order in Munich will decide the great bulk of places for boats at the Beijing Olympics.
The composition of the lightweight four was in doubt until this week. Paul Griffin, Eugene Coakley and Richard Archibald were definites, but the Ireland head coach, Harald Jahrling, had to decide between Galway's Liam Molloy (21) and Kerry's Cathal Moynihan (26) for the final place, Moynihan getting the nod. Molloy will be the reserve and will contest the lightweight single scull, a non-Olympic event.
Last year, with Gearóid Towey in the bow seat now occupied by Moynihan, this crew took bronze at the Worlds, but this time the main aim is simple: finish in the top 11 (of 27 entries) and Ireland is guaranteed a lightweight four for Beijing, with no need to negotiate tricky qualifiers next year.
Eleventh or better is also the magic figure for the men's four of Seán O'Neill, Cormac Folan, Seán Casey and Alan Martin and for single sculler Seán Jacob. The four have consistently shown they are at this standard, but it would take an outstanding effort for Dubliner Jacob to land the spoils in what is the hardest of all the events.
Only eight lightweight women's doubles will book Beijing places in Munich, and Niamh Ní Cheilleachair and Sinead Jennings (now moved into the stroke seat) will need to up their form if they are to make that octet. Last year this crew finished seventh overall, but the standard has risen. Denmark, Canada, Finland and Greece are chasing hard behind the favourites, China - and Australia, Germany, Britain and the United States are rowing superpowers. A white-knuckle ride may be in store.
Orlagh Duddy, in the lightweight single scull, has a real possibility of finishing a fine debut season with a place in an A final - and will target a medal.
The team will travel on Monday through Frankfurt. They were originally scheduled to travel direct to Munich on Tuesday, but the threatened Aer Lingus pilots' strike prompted the change.
One man confident Ireland will do well is Frank Durkin, the president of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union.
"I'll be bringing my blazer in expectation of medals," he said yesterday. The Offalyman confirmed he would again run for president at the agm on September 15th. Nominations for office close this day week, August 24th.
UCD rowing club at Islandbridge will be busy the next day, August 25th, as the Dublin City Triathlon will be in full swing. Ciarán Lewis is helping promote the event. In Cork, the AIB All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships take place in Union Hall on Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th.
In last week's rowing piece Harald Jahrling was incorrectly quoted as saying he was open to the idea of a lightweight coach. The Ireland head coach did not say this. James Lindsay-Fynn's name was incorrectly spelt in the headline. The errors occurred in the editing.
IRELAND TEAM (for World Championships in Munich from August 26th to September 2nd): Men - Four:S O'Neill, C Folan, S Casey, A Martin. Lightweight Four:C Moynihan, E Coakley, R Archibald, P Griffin. Single Scull:S Jacob. Lightweight Single: L Molloy. Women - Lightweight Double Scull:N Ní Cheilleachair, S Jennings. Lightweight Single: O Duddy.
