ROWING: Storm clouds which have been building up over Irish rowing finally broke yesterday at the end of the World Championships in Seville with strident criticism of the management and coaching structures from spokesmen for almost the entire team - and a warning that if a more professional approach was not adopted the bulk of the senior squad might quit.
Derek Holland (28), who yesterday stroked the men's lightweight four to a stirring win in the B final, said: "We're very frustrated at the whole management. At the (national) championships we (the four) tried to approach the rowing union to bring in a coach for the four and the double to make us go quicker. They (management) said no coach would come in."
The performance of the four has been down to the individuals, he said.
"There has been no input from management or coaching. If we are looking for Olympic medals, the eight of us (the men's lightweight four and the men's and women's lightweight doubles) involved - unless the management and coaching changes we might as well not continue."
Tony O'Connor (33), whose own day and that of partner Gearoid Towey was blighted by a last-place finish in the men's lightweight pair final, said: "If things don't change radically the whole team might quit. We are wasting our time as it is."
He dubbed the present structure a "Third World " one, and said criticisms he made last year after the pair had won the title had not been dealt with. "Things are a lot worse since then," he claimed.
O'Connor said blame did not lie with national coach Hamish Burrell, "the problem is the people who chose him. We have sent three or four letters to the executive (of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union), but people there have not been listening to us at all.
"It is embarrassing to be on an Irish rowing team at the moment," O'Connor said, and claimed athletes from other states agree with their sentiments. Our rowers are professionals but union officials are not, he claimed. "We know what is required - unfortunately the people at home don't."
Team manager Mick O'Callaghan was not contactable for comment yesterday.
The sight of O'Connor being carried away from the slip to be given medical assistance after the lightweight pairs final cast a gloom over the day. O'Connor had been suffering from a fever on Saturday but took to the water desperately hoping all would go well.
"It's a World Championship final and you hope to God you have six-and-a-half minutes in your system. If it was anyone else I would have said 'don't race'."
The race was won in a world record 6.29.97 by Chile's Christian Yantani Garces and Miguel Cerda Silva.
