Rowing: A proposal for a radical change in the domestic rowing calendar, which would have seen the junior championships moving to September was defeated by one vote (14 to 13) at the agm of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union in Dublin on Saturday.
Delegates had already decided 15-9 to site all the championships apart from the university tests in the traditional July date, but the proposal by Mike Heskin of St Joseph's to put back the junior competition two months received strong support from international team manager Mick O'Callaghan.
"We are burning out these juniors," O'Callaghan said. He cited the case of top underage competitors having the Leaving Certificate in May and early June then their top domestic rowing event a few weeks later, followed quickly by international championships.
The chairman of the domestic events committee, Lisa O'Callaghan, said a proposed calendar which she circulated to clubs which would have moved all the championships except the university events to September had prompted 12 negative responses. Her revised version, which returned the season highlight to the traditional July dates (13th-14th) was approved by 23 votes to three.
Regatta committees which have not paid outstanding levies by October 27th may have their events removed. Chief executive Martin Corcoran said in his report to the meeting 2,010 registrations had been processed by the new online system this year, and the online entry system should be available at all regattas in the coming season.
Union president Frank Durkin, secretary Denis O'Regan and treasurer John McGeehan, were all returned unopposed.
President's Awards - Senior Men: Ireland lightweight four. Senior Women: Ireland lightweight double scull. Junior Men: World Championship coxed four. Junior Women: Laura Gannon. Coach of the Year; Pat McInerney, St Michael's. President's Award: Bobby Platt, Coleraine Academical Institute.
Provincial Awards - Leinster: Tony Dooley (Carlow). Munster: Kieran Kerr (St Michael's). Connacht: Neasa Folan (Galway). No Ulster award presented.
