ROWING/Weekly column: Two of the biggest debates in Irish rowing over a number of years have been about the lack of a heavyweight programme at international level and that top-class rowers have such a short season, with many effectively left to their own devices from the National Championships in July to the following spring.

With one fell swoop, Richard Parr, the high performance director of the sport in Ireland, has put in place a structure that may end both debates, or at least curb their worst excesses.

Parr's big aim has always been to organise a programme which would allow any rower to see an uncluttered set of steps which would lead him or her all the way to World Championship and Olympic Games level - if they are good enough and prepared to put in the work.

Next month, from September 11th-14th there will be an education/development camp at Inniscarra; in November there will be ergometer tests and on-water evaluations; there will be a camp in December, more testing in January and a selection camp in March/April.

Those who come through this process progress to the World Cup regattas and World Championships - and possibly the Olympic Games in Athens.

Parr opposed sending the promising under-23 heavyweight four to this year's senior World Championships primarily because he felt they were not good enough. But he stresses his aim is the same as many of those who disputed this issue with him.

The under-23 four did "a hell of a good job", but effectively only came together in the spring. The aim is to build from the autumn on, which should yield even better results.