Morten Espersen calls for radical change to domestic calendar at agm

The agm of Rowing Ireland should be a memorable one.

This year’s event, on Sunday, September 27th, promises proper disagreement – albeit in a session from from which the press will be excluded.

The high performance director, Morten Espersen, and the lead coach, Don McLachlan, want radical change. In a closed session, they will call for a revamp of the domestic calendar, with the Irish Championships moving to September or October, to facilitate the international programme. The Dane and the New Zealander point out that Ireland, Denmark and New Zealand have similar populations and similar numbers of competitive rowers. Denmark has 22 Olympic medals and New Zealand 21. Ireland has none.

In his report to the agm, Espersen says: “My hope is that all club coaches will support their athletes to achieve the highest goals, to row for their country and to win medals at international championships. An Olympic medal has to be the goal for all in Irish rowing – clubs, schools, universities, coaches and athletes.”

The proposals will not be met with universal acclaim. When the Championships were split, with some events in September, it did not work.

Successful raid

Ireland crews launched a successful raid on the World Masters Regatta in Hazewinkel in Belgium. Two highlights were the haul of sculling victories for Denis Crowley and the win for the men’s E eight (55 or over) against Dynamo Moscow.