Displaying items by tag: open double scull

20th October 2011

Irish Aquatic Sports Off Target for Olympic Spots

Ireland's aquatic sports are way off target for qualification for next summer's Olympic Games, according to performance heads.

http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/rowing/

The Irish Times reports that just two Olympic spots in each category remain, to be decided next May at the Lucerne Regatta.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/1019/1224306072014.html

http://www.afloat.ie/watersport/rowing/rowing-news/item/16153-maher-and-odonovan-finish-well-at-lucerne/

McElroy lamented that Irish rowing is "missing a generation of athletes".

He added: "What has happened in rowing is the budgeting is usually year on year, and so the senior crews get the spotlight, and the danger with that is you lose sight of the under-23s, who need to serve their apprentice."

Hopes for Olympic medals rest with sailing, with James O'Callaghan of the Irish Sailing Association delcaring that its goal "is to have an Irish team stand on the podium in London".

http://afloat.ie/sail/

http://www.afloat.ie/resources/organisations/irish-sailing-association/

Ireland's aquatic sports are way off target for qualification for next summer's Olympic Games, according to performance heads.

“The reality is we’re no better than a 50-50 chance of qualifying a crew," said Rowing Ireland performance director Martin McElroy, who has been putting his focus on the men’s lightweight double scull, the women’s lightweight double scull, and the women’s open double scull.

The Irish Times reports that just two Olympic spots in each category remain, to be decided next May at the Lucerne Regatta.

McElroy lamented that Irish rowing is "missing a generation of athletes".

Hopes for Olympic medals rest with sailing, with James O'Callaghan of the Irish Sailing Association delcaring that its goal "is to have an Irish team stand on the podium in London".

Published in Rowing

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.