Junior18A Eights

[mhughes]

We have 4 eights contesting this championship.

Is that as good as it gets?

[nabibuarthafaoi]

I think to be honest that no matter how many entries were put in it would be and still is a highly contested event. The fact that only 4 crews entered could mean that it will be a better and closer race. It would be a waste for clubs to enter crews that really aren't within a fighting chance of coming close to contesting this race, and allows them to concentrate on events that they may be stronger in!

[element]

This lack of 8s shows the lack of interest in rowing in Ireland. Hopefully the upcoming olympics will generate some much needed interest in rowing

[mhughes]

Re continental

Thanks.....

Missed the point of the question .... again ...did ya?

I might have a longer record of achievement in the sport than your good self.... throw rocks where they might do some damage. Till then..... channel your anger.

Re. nabibuarthafaoi

You might be right.

Personally I believe that the traditional schools of Irish rowing are fading (Colaiste, CAI, RBAI, Methodist) and possibly the commercial clubs are are not making the push through either.

[catchup]

Mr. Hughes,

There are 11 J18A eights in the championships. Or don't you count women in the greater scheme of things?

[mrbisweptual]

He's only talking about mens eights because there was only four eights entered, at least womens eights has semi finals so no need to be getting all defensive about the women

[rowrowrowurboat]

Other clubs most know there not up to the standard of the race and are gonna focus on other boats!

Who Wants to be humiliated?!

[strokebystroke]

Jun 26, 2008 17:52:56 GMT element said:

This lack of 8s shows the lack of interest in rowing in Ireland. Hopefully the upcoming olympics will generate some much needed interest in rowing

I disagree that there is a lack of interest in rowing in Ireland.
I think the focus has just shifted hugely from sweeping to sculling. Look at the groups coming up, 19 J14 4xs! That's 76 boys from all over the country.
Even at j18 level there are 34 scullers racing the 1x, 38 racing in 2x's.

[angrychair]

I agree totally with you strokebystroke - there has been a massive switch over to the sculling side of things which has been great - look at a recent regatta like Carlow which would have a massive junior entry - think I seen two or three sweep boats all day with their own junior 8 racing their senior quad for a race. The quad is definitely the 'in' boat at the moment at all levels and is really helping in the development of these young oarspeople, even the likes of Bish have been spotted in quads in recent years

One problem I do have though is an age old problem of trying to manage a large number of juniors and what to do with the weaker members of the group - there is still a bit of a mentality of only entering your best guys and leave all other on the banks to watch - it could be something along the lines of what is happening in the eights - wouldn't it be great to see 10-15 eights racing it out even if it meant that there were say Bish or Portora B, C & D crews entered, same goes for even single sculls, you might have a bunch of 10 guys who can all scull but you will only enter your top one or two guys in regatta's, whether this is due to fear of failure, or lack of boats or whatever the case may be

[darkside]

I agree with angry chair that even if you are not the best in your club if you train you deserve a race especially at a young age. Ppl mature differently mit not be a good junior but could be a good senior. But i believe it does come down to wanting to win and clubs seeing no point inentering crews that do not hav a chance.

[nabibuarthafaoi]

I agree that people should be allowed race. However others may have worked just as hard as anyone else on the crew but at the end of the day they may be smaller/weaker than the rest but they are committed and their commitment should be honored. Thats why there are so many j14/j15 entries. The fact is though that people start to get fed up of spending 3 hours everyday training for 3 or 4 years and want to concentrate on other things like exams! The numbers at j18 level simply aren't there and people start to lose interest!

[darkside]

Just wanted to say that even though it is only four boats i believe they are the four that would have made the final anyway. So i think it will be a very good race to watch they hav all trained hard and may the best crew win

[sixtynine]

Agreed darkside, the four boats in the final contain some of the best junior oarsmen in the country. Best of luck to all of them, hopefully everyone will have a good row. May the best crew win!!!

[anchorman]

2004-8
2005-7
2006-7
2007-8
2008-4

With the number of eights this year at its lowest in the years previous,and probably further back,I think the IARU should step in and allow Composite boats at Junior level.I know it is not a solution for the drop in interest but it would allow for events like this to be "thickened" up a bit and possibly more competitive.
Galway and Jes tried one this year and I'm sure there could have been others,maybe from Cork area or somewhere up the north.

As I said its not a solution and I'll probably get a few comments sayin it wouldn't be fair etc.etc.(All thats been said on the Composite thread),but it would make for better races especially in this event.

[nabibuarthafaoi]

You certainly have made a fair point anchorman, however I disagree with the idea of a junior composite but will keep that discussion for another place. Junior composites may very well hold the key to a more 'thickened' racing season.