Rowing Ireland performance director, Morten Espersen said “The Irish Sports Council have approved three overseas camps for the Rowing Ireland international programme for the coming season”
There will be two camps in Italy early in the year and one which has yet to be finalised before the World Championships, which are in late August/early September in Aiguebelette in France.
Espersen recently briefed the Olympic Council and was upbeat about his programme in the run-up to the next Ireland trial, which will be held at the National Rowing Centre the weekend before Christmas.
Next season is a crucial one as crews can qualify for Rio 2016 if they place well at the World Championships and the support funding for the camps is crucial.
Three Ireland women’s crews finished the season in positions which would secure Rio qualification if reproduced in Aiguebelette.
Espersen said “It cannot just be a women’s programme”
He pointed out that the heavyweight men’s programme under James Mangan has drawn good numbers and he picked out the combination of Turlough Hughes and Dave Neale.
“ It is going to be interesting to see what they can do in a double.”
World class lightweight single sculler Paul O’Donovan and his elder brother Gary have been training together in the lightweight double.
“We try to give them a chance,” said Espersen, though he added that they will have to go through the trials process.
The other project at this level is a lightweight four.
“There are some decent ones coming along,” Espersen says, name checking Micheál Bailey, Niall Duncan and Alan Prendergast, who may complement more established internationals. There are ongoing camps at the National Rowing Centre – coaches John Holland and Dave Mannion are due there this weekend – and there will be a meeting before Christmas with athletes.
