ROWING:BIG CHANGES are in train at the National Rowing Centre to facilitate the High Performance programme, and the offices of Rowing Ireland may be moved from Dublin to the centre in Farran Wood in Cork next year as a cost-saving measure.

The developments come as the head of the high performance programme, Martin McElroy, spoke to The Irish Times yesterday of “a lot of tension” having existed between the high performance side of the sport and the board of Rowing Ireland.

The purpose of the €6 million NRC has been a major source of debate. McElroy was unhappy with elements of the management of the facility, and with the slowness in the decision-making of the board of Rowing Ireland.

However, a major refurbishment of the building is now in train. The gym has been moved downstairs and rest areas have been created in the freed-up space. The president of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union, Anthony Dooley, said “€150,000 to €200,000” is being spent, with the money being diverted – with the approval of the Department of Sport – from a planned upgrading of the finishing tower to international standard.

Dooley said the relocation of the IARU office from Dublin to Cork was “more than likely going to happen”. “That will provide a management structure down there.” The HP programme will share the facility with clubs, who hire it out.

The cost of running the NRC is “€75,000 to €100,000” per anum, according to Dooley.

McElroy’s overarching aim is the creation of a high performance system which fulfils the criteria laid down by the Sports Council: sustainable performance at European, World and Olympic level.

The “sustainable” element is his lode star: he says they could dispense with half of the work of his coaches if London 2012 was the only aim.

But will we have athletes good enough for London? McElroy is ambitious and positive: a crucial element is to have boats qualified next year rather than in Olympic Qualifiers in 2012 – and he thinks a lightweight women’s double scull and a lightweight men’s boat may get there.

This year the lightweight women’s double reached two top-class international finals and an lightweight men’s boat medalled at the World Under-23 Championships.

Back on the domestic front, the entry for the second “small boat” leg of the National Championships has, as expected a big underage component, with the number of athletes in the senior grade numbering 35 men and 45 women.