Devlin waiting for green light

Rowing : Jonno Devlin, who has been a big success since joining the Ireland camp after being cut from the British team last year, has still not been given clearance from Britain to compete for Ireland at the Olympics this year.

"It's very frustrating for everyone in the Irish Olympic group," said Garth Young, the head of the Irish International Rowing Committee, yesterday.

Young said that the Irish Amateur Rowing Union had applied for clearance for Devlin four months ago, but have still been given no word. "I'd like to think it's working it's way through, but it's the end of February now," Young added.

It is understood there is no difficulty in Devlin rowing for Ireland at the World Cup regattas this year, but the aim of the team this year is to find success in Beijing for the already-qualified men's four, and to qualify more boats.

Devlin was born in South Africa but his mother and father are from Northern Ireland. While he competed for Britain until June of last year, he was always conscious of his Irish roots. "My parents always made sure I had a British and an Irish passport," Devlin explained last year. "They were quite wise, I suppose. I've had an Irish passport as long as I've had a British passport."

One of the ironies in this situation is that three of the most successful members of the British team at the moment rowed in Ireland first. Coleraine men Richard Chambers and Alan Campbell both rowed under IARU rules at under-16 level, and James Lindsay-Fynn actually took a bronze medal in a green vest at the World Championships in 1999.

Devlin and Seán Casey teamed up to good effect as a men's pair at the Fisa Team Cup in Seville at the weekend. With the four already qualified there may be a temptation to take the strongest pair to the Olympic Qualifier to give Ireland the best shot of a second heavyweight boat in Beijing. Young, however, would not comment on speculation about team selection. "We're going to have to hear what Harald's recommendation's are," he said, referring to head coach Harald Jahrling.

Three of the members of the Ireland lightweight crews which competed in Seville are set to compete in the Lagan Head of the River tomorrow. Orlagh Duddy, Richard Archibald and Eugene Coakley are among a huge entry for the event.

Trinity, Commercial and Belfast Rowing Club have entered men's senior eights.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times