Six Irish boats, all of them in Olympic boat categories, compete in this the first chance to test the 2007 field. A record entry of over 880 athletes from 46 nations will compete over the three days with a notably high 27 strong boat entry from China, with the Beijing Olympics on the horizon. Germany is the only country that sends a larger contingent with 37 crews entered.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s race draw Irish team manager Mick O’Callaghan said:
“The athletes have put in a tremendous amount of hard work over the last number of months training for this season so at this point they are just really looking forward to racing. We are all looking forward to getting started, and with such a large top quality entry it will provide a good opportunity to assess our current form.”
The men’s lightweight four (LM4-), sees one change from the crew that won bronze at last year’s World Championships following the decision of Gearóid Towey to take a break from competition this season. Cathal Moynihan of Neptune comes into the four for this weekend’s racing. Richard Coakley made up the quartet two weeks ago at a warm-up regatta in Essen but in an effort to find the best combination for the crew Moynihan will participate in Linz. Skibbereen’s Tim Harnedy, who was part of the lightweight four throughout 2005 is recovering well from injury, and will resume full training with the team shortly.
Sinéad Jennings and Niamh NiCheilleachair race in the lightweight women’s double sculls (LW2x) in a field that sees all but one of last year’s world championship finalists contest the medals. The Irish duo will be hoping to for a similar showing to their world championship performance; a seventh place finish.
On the heavyweight side of the Irish team the men’s four (M4-) of Martin, Casey, O’Neill, and Folan are optimistic following their strong showing at the Essen warm-up regatta. Three of the last year’s World university games gold medal winning crew; Paul Murray, Paul O’Brien, and James Wall graduate to the senior ranks alongside UCD’s Con Collis to form a heavyweight quad (M4x).
Experienced Dublin sculler Sean Jacob features among the massive 41 entries for the men’s heavyweight single scull (M1x), while Garda’s Caroline Ryan teams up with Helen Walshe of UCD for the first time at an international level in the women’s heavyweight double sculls (W2x).
Racing in the heats for the Irish gets underway at 8.54am on Friday morning with the repechages and quarter finals taking place in the evening up until 8pm. Initial results will be issued after the morning heats.
The overall World Cup champions are determined after a series of three regattas (Linz, Amsterdam in late June & Lucerne in July) with the centrepiece of the International season the World Championships in Munich, Germany beginning August 26th which, this year, is the main Olympic qualifying regatta with the majority of places on offer.
The event will be streamed live and can be accessed on www.worldrowing.com
