FERMOY ROWER SET TO REPRESENT IRELAND AT WORLDS
Kildinan’s Alison Bergin, set to compete at the 2021 World Rowing U23 Championships.
Fermoy Rowing Club member Alison Bergin is to take to the water in Racice, Czech Republic representing Ireland at the 2021 World Rowing U23 Championships.
Alison will represent her country in the Women’s Single Sculls event as part of an Irish team that includes three other crews - Mens’ Coxed Four, Mens’ Coxless Four and Mens’ Lightweight Double Scull.
At the end of May, it was confirmed that Alison was on the crew after Rowing Ireland’s high-performance director, Antonio Maurogiovanni, announced his selection of athletes that would be competing in the 2021 World event.
While the competition gets underway from July 7 until July 11, currently Alison is stationed in Italy training with the Irish U23 and senior squad for the two weeks prior to the big event.
Speaking with The Avondhu, Alison’s father Shane said that it is ‘very exciting’ for both Alison and the family, with this competition being Alison’s first time moving out of junior competition leagues.
“She was the only female athlete selected for the U23s, so it’s a great honour for her to have four years at the U23 level,” he said.
Shane also noted the impact that Covid-19 has had on normal training regimes and routines.
“Covid-19 has made training very hard for everybody but it’s great that she has had the opportunity to keep well and fit and healthy while others haven't been quite so lucky. It’s great excitement for everyone but unfortunately, we won’t be able to travel to see her compete,” Shane added.
In 2020, Alison was selected for the Irish Junior (U19) squad and represented her country at the Europen Junior Rowing Championships in Serbia.
The Kildinan lady placed 5th with the JW4x crew in their final at the 2020 European Junior Rowing Championships.
After competing in the Womens’ Quad Sculls at last year’s European Junior Championships, this will be Alison’s first international competition in the single scull.
In an interview last year, Shane told The Avondhu that Alison began rowing when she was about 13 or 14, when they had gone for a swim in Fermoy and Shane Donnellan of Fermoy Rowing Club asked whether Alison would be interested in joining the club.
While Alison's grandfather used to row as a hobby, Alison is the first in her family to take on rowing competitively and before Covid-19, she won the Indoor National Junior Championships.
Member of Fermoy Rowing Club who coached Alison, Ray Morrisson, noted that Alison was selected for the Irish team after a selection process that was run a bit differently this year due to Covid-19.
"First up early in the year, were ergometer (Indoor Rowing machines) tests, in which Alison posted two consecutive PB’s.
"As a result of those, Alison was invited to participate in the water trials at the NRC, at which she did exceptionally well - well enough to be selected for the U23 championships, even though Alison has another 3 years at this grade," Ray said.
Ray went on to note the hard work put in as he states that Alison has been training at the NRC since March of this year with a group of senior and U23 athletes, and with Rowing Ireland’s High Performance coaches.
"In preparation for next week’s World Championships, she has relocated to the Rowing Ireland training camp in Italy. The senior squad for this year’s Olympics is also at this camp, which guarantees Alison is getting the best possible preparation for the World Championships," he added.
Alison's father thanked Fermoy Rowing Club members and the coaches that Alison has had over the years.
“It’s a testament to the Irish and Fermoy coaches that her development has progressed so much over the years. Alison is training under the Irish crew set-up now but we’re very grateful to Fermoy Rowing Club and the coaches for their assistance,” Shane said.
THURSDAY ACTION FOR ALISON
The top event for the year for U23 rowers is the World Rowing U23 Championships and the championships usually takes place in July attracting up to 1,000 rowers from around the world. There are 22 boat classes to compete in, including eight lightweight boat classes.
In the U23 Championships, which take place in Racice, Czech Republic for the first time since 2009, racing will start for the Irish crews on Wednesday, July 10 with the heats of the Mens’ Coxed and Coxless Fours. Alison’s racing starts on Thursday morning with the heats of the single sculls.
At the time of printing, there is no list of entries, but it is anticipated that there will be approximately 19 participants in her event.
"We wish Alison and the rest of the Irish team the best of luck next week, and hope it is the start of a long and successful senior international rowing career," Ray Morisson said.