Irish team gear up for Rowing championships
Friday, 31 July 2009 15:26Rowing Ireland is sending one of its largest junior teams to represent Ireland in this year's annual Coupe de la Jeunesse, the Junior European Rowing Championships, which takes place in Vichy, France this Bank Holiday weekend.
The 26 member team is made up of 15 Junior Men and 11 Junior Women who will be up against some of the best rowing talent from Italy, France, Great Britian, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
Team manager Clare Cox is happy with the team's preparations and believes Ireland will not be found wanting: 'We are going out to showcase some of the best young talent in Irish rowing and this year we're sending a comparatively large team competing in nine different boat categories.'
'Tommy Deere and Niall Murphy from Carlow, who were winners of the Men's Junior Pair at the recent Irish Rowing Championships, will be representing Ireland for the first time while the Junior Women's pair is made up of two athletes from Colaiste Iognaid in Galway, Aifric Keogh and Zoe Mannion.
Ireland will also have strong line-up in the Coxed and Coxless Four events.
Last year, Ireland hosted the 2008 Coupe at the National Rowing Centre at Inniscarra Lake, Cork.
