THE Irish squad for next month's European short course swimming championships has been increased to seven following call ups yesterday for Michael Giles, Colin Lowth and Lee Kelleher.
The bigger squad should enable increased Irish involvement in relay events. "This is a very important aspect of the side. The bigger the team the better. It has been something that we have lacked in the past. Small teams at major events can have its setbacks," says team coach Ger Doyle.
Lee Kelleher is the only woman in the team, a situation that highlights the lamentable, if unavoidable, absence of Michelle Smith and Marion Madine.
There are various relay permutations available to the selectors. Giles, Lowth, Nick O'Hare and the O'Connors, Adrian and Hugh, can provide interesting challenges over 4x50 metres freestyle and medley relays. "It all depends on "the quality of the entries," says Doyle.
The showpiece of the coming weekend is the King's Hospital international gala which will be celebrating its 25th year as the Sportsco club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Atlanta Olympians Nick O'Hare, Adrian O'Connor and Earl McCarth are all set to compete. The competitive highlight could be the 50 metres freestyle.
O'Hare qualified for the Olympics by dipping under 23 seconds and he will not be in need of incentives on this occasion with Hugh O'Connor, Dougie Hyde, Garret Walker and John Kealy poised to lead the challenge. Marion Madine's participation enriches the quality of the women's entries.
The much beleaguered gala referees will be given additional support and powers as a result of a recent decision taken by the IASA's executive committee. The referee will now have the power to disqualify a club from a competition when he or she - or any gala official - is verbally abused.
Association secretary Celia Millane says: "The decision was taken in response to the growing number of complaints regarding officials on the bank being the subject of ongoing and severe verbal abuse over decisions with which the attacker does not agree. The IASA is in danger of losing them if these attacks continue," says Millane.
