President’s report

Deceased since last. AGM Denis McSweeney (Cork B.C.) Imelda Bermingham (Sister of Jimmy) Margaret Rose (Mother of Tom) Tom Mulqueen (Cork B.C.) Liz Henihan ( Mother of Dermot) Maurice Crean (Father of Brian, Cork ) John Dougan (Brother of Dermot)

Angela Lupton Mother in law and mother of Mike Heskin Karl Farrell ( Brother of Gerry) Maura Kerr( Mother of Kieran) Kate ( Wife of Pat O’Sullivan of OC) Dr. Norman Furlong of DUBC Louis Murnane ( Athlunkard) Tony McDonald (SRC)

BOARD After a second audit within a year, IARU set up an Audit Committee to produce written procedures and checks, which has been done and these are being applied. This committee now needs to review implementation.

Operational plan The annual plan to implement the strategic plan tends to get submerged in the day-to- day work. Half-yearly review indicates that it is running but we still have some non- functioning committees.

Discipline This year, there have been no complaints leading to disciplinary measures.

REGISTRATION 2184 registrations for 2145 people in 2007 Vs 2010 in 2006 vs 1670 in 2005 vs in %▲ Junior % (640/482) Senior* % » (355/245) Masters * % » (323/100) TOTAL % * All aged >26 counted as “Masters”

Financial status of IARU With 70 clubs and increasing registrations the contribution of the clubs is averaging €1,400. About 1/3 of the affiliation fees goes back to the branches. The organisation is running a surplus at present. I will have proposals for the new Board to use this for the benefit of the Branches

SERVICES TO CLUBS ACTIVITIES Coach education Safety Umpires/Rules Code of Ethics Championships Club development Promoting Adaptive Rowing

Coach Education Coach Education Officer (CEDO) in Place (See report)* Level 1 should be piloted again soon and rolled out in more areas in New Year Introductory level continues Two more tutors for training

Safety courses 1 course held Refinement of course needed, to be more specific Detailed FISA policy could be incorporated into our policy.

Umpires/Rules The usual provincial seminars and exams for umpires were held. Rules education seminars for captains and secretaries were held for the first time and seem to have been successful

Code of Ethics In the ISC jurisdiction these courses are now the responsibility of LSP In NI supplied by local Sports Advisory Councils. Our own tutor, Tom Fennessey, is still available to give courses, but we do not need to have further tutors trained.

Championships Principal Sponsor Anglo-Irish Championships went well with 182 races scheduled over 2 days - do we need another day or half day? Factors; A good team in charge Good co-operation from clubs

Championships (cont.) Further development; Replacement course with start and finish fixtures.

Championship entry totals MenWomen Senior147(-30%)103(-10%) Inter180(+12%)112(-3%) Novice204(+15%)211(+70%) Totals531 (-1%)426(+20%) Overall957 (+7%)

Junior Championship J. MenJ. Women Juniors263 (+57%)194(+60%) Overall457 (+58%)

Numbers of entries in last 20 years 2 years in mid ’90s are missing in part A very big surge in mid-90’s is evident at most levels.

Championships Cont.

Championships Cont

Championships Cont.

CHAMPIONSHIP TOTALS

NON-CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS u-16;15;14 GENDER % MALE %+ FEMALE %+ Overall+32% MASTERS %-

Club Development Mark Wickham has accepted the second volunteer post of Development Officer and will split the island with John O’Keeffe. “DRY ROW”. This is now in need of audit to determine whether it is benefiting the sport. If there are good and poor outcomes we need to identify the reasons.

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE; MANY THANKS TO: ISC; The vast bulk of international funds ANGLO-IRISH BANK; Substantial funds for the Lightweight team. MERC; 2007 boat for the open mens 4- and a new boat in 2008 for the Olympics STENA; For the favourable deal for squads and clubs crossing the Irish Sea. Dooley Motors/FORD; For a state of the art towing vehicle.

International HI a success on land and on the water Coupe; three crews won medals both days U-23 disappointing except for LW 1X WC/Qualifying Good & otherwise

DOMESTIC EVENTS In general events have been well run with improving facilities. Clubs continue to travel abroad for the experience of the exotic and bring back new ideas and demand for better standards. The proposed change in the season will bring us into new territory.

Events (cont.) Factors in improved events; Seminars for event and club secretaries. Event Handbook Experience abroad

Events The 3 rd holding of events for unaffiliated schools at the University Championships was again a modest success and should be persisted with and even extended to another province. The aim is to get more schools rowing.

ADAPTIVE IWA Multi-sport camp for juniors based in UCD and rowing in Dublin Municipal.

NRC The current phase is now complete and the impressive building was officially opened by the then Minister, John O’Dohoghue and is in operation since. The Board is preparing a brief for a staff member to run the centre. There is no time scale for the next phase which will involve accommodation.

INSURANCE For many clubs this remains the biggest single item of cost. A group policy will be cheaper the more clubs that are involved and this needs to be seriously discussed at the Branches

Rule changes After the Olympics, probably January/February 2009, will be the next Rule Change EGM. The discussion needs to start now about need for – no changes – small changes – big changes.

SUMMARY Domestic rowing is in good health and looks to be on the brink of a surge in activities Developments in coach education should facilitate this. A hiccough in the international scene is being addressed. The athletes are there to be competitive at the Olympics.