ROWING: Ireland's team at the World Under-23 Championships at the Bosbaan in The Netherlands had a disappointing opening day yesterday.
In windy conditions, only Richard Coakley in the lightweight single scull made it successfully through the heats, with the four other boats all set to compete in today's repechages.
Coakley, the younger brother of senior international Eugene, moved directly into tomorrow's semi-finals by finishing second to Marcello Miani of Italy in his heat.
With 27 entrants, the lightweight single is a difficult class and Coakley has a big job if he is to win gold on Sunday - the requirement set by national coach Harald Jahrling if the 22-year-old is to represent Ireland in this class at the senior World Championships next month.
Ireland's lightweight four and open four are the other big hopes at the Under-23s, but both finished fifth and last in their heats yesterday. The junior double scull of Paul O'Brien and Rory O'Connor and the junior pair of Vincent Ruane and Matthew Carroll both finished fourth in their heats, a creditable performance given their youth.
In just a week's time, the Coupe de la Jeunesse (a European junior championship) at Eton in England gives a chance of glory for juniors who are just a step down from this level. This year it will also give a taste of coaching at international level to Sam Lynch.
The Limerickman, who was world champion at lightweight single scull in 2001 and 2002, has been bulking up this year and intends to join the senior squad as a heavyweight when they begin training in Ireland again in September or October. In the meantime he is enjoying coaching the junior men's four for Eton.
"They're very good lads and very easy to coach," Lynch says of James McLoughlin, Paul Hennigan, Daniel and Jason Barry. The Barrys will be the stern pair, and are from Lynch's own club, St Michael's. So is Lynch eyeing a more permanent move to the riverbank? "No, no, no," he says. He has no plans to build on this job, which he was only asked to do recently.
"I am enjoying it very much - I'm probably getting more out of it than the lads are," Lynch says. His companion in taking charge of the junior men is Gerry Towey, who is the father of Lynch's crew-mate at the Olympics, Gearoid Towey.
