Star decision imminent

2nd May 2008

The decision on who will represent Ireland at the Olympics in the Star class is expected to be made this weekend.

The ISA's coaches had until the April 30 deadline to make a recommendation to the Olympic Steering Group on who they feel is the best candidate for success at the Beijing Games. Afloat understands that the OSG has heard recommendations and made its own decision, which must now be ratified by the ISA's board of directors.

The three candidate pairs O'Connell/Cooke, O'Leary/Milne and Treacy/Shanks are likely to hear who has been selected this weekend before an official announcement is made.

All three competed at the recent Star World Championships in Miami, with Treacy and Shanks qualifying the country, finishing as top Irish boat in 14th position overall. O'Leary and Milne finished 17th, having won the last race, and O'Connell/Cooke finished 49th.

No matter which way the decision goes, it will be controversial. Treacy and Shanks can rightfully claim to have earned Ireland its slot at the Games. O'Connell and Cooke, dogged recently by a hand injury sustained by O'Connell have put in a long campaign, while O'Leary and Milne shot to the top of the fleet only recently, finishing in style with a bullet in Miami.

Watch this space

Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.