Heskin takes over at Irish rowing

Date Published: 12-Oct-2007

CITY businessman Mike Heskin is set for a hectic year of travelling in the run-up to next year’s Olympic Games after he was appointed manager of the Irish rowing team on Saturday.

Heskin’s job will include liaising with the coaches of the lightweight and heavyweight crews during their preparations for Beijing 2008.

Regarded as one of the most outspoken critics of the old Irish Amateur Rowing Union (IARU) structures, he described international rowing in this country as an “absolute shambles” during a heated annual general meeting two years ago.

Since then, the IARU has heeded calls for reform, including the appointment of new lightweight coach John Holland (UCD) to take the pressure off Harald Jahrling, who will be able to focus exclusively on the heavyweights next year.

Two Galway oarsmen, Alan Martin and Cormac Folan, will be expected to row with the Irish heavyweight four in Beijing after their boat qualified for the Olympics last month.

Part of Heskin’s brief will be to ensure that proper facilities and structures are put in place for the Irish crews at training camps in Switzerland, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Dublin and Cork over the coming year.

His appointment is part of a massive shake-up of the sport at the highest level in Ireland, as he takes over from long serving manager Mick O’Callaghan.

Heskin has years of experience at club level with St. Joseph’s (The Bish) and Tribesmen, and he has looked after Irish junior and underage teams over a period of almost two decades.