World champion race-walking star Rob Heffernan has announced his retirement from international athletics.

The National Rowing Centre was tranquil as the water on sun-kissed Inniscarra Lake yesterday with Ireland’s top rowers putting on a united front to launch the international regatta season and kickstart new Rowing Ireland chief executive Michelle McElligott Carpenter’s reign.

Charlie and his appearances on the Champs Elysee in 1987 and at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico three years later, writes Brendan O’Brien. 

Paul and Gary O’Donovan’s bid to win another Olympic rowing medal is being jeopardised by a shortage in funding that has left the Skibbereen pair making do with a four-year-old boat.

Paul and Gary O’Donovan’s bid to win another Olympic rowing medal, in Tokyo in 2020, is being jeopardised by a shortage in funding that has left the Skibbereen pair making do with a four-year old boat.

Here’s a prediction: the next great Irish athlete, the one we take a hiatus from work to watch challenge for an Olympic medal, will not be a distance runner.

Athletics Ireland announced yesterday that its new CEO will be Hamish Adams, who currently holds the same position at Rowing Ireland.

As the Irish assault in Racice last Friday began, another positive development for Irish rowing was emerging at home; it was announced that Antonio Maurogiovanni had been confirmed as Rowing Ireland’s new High Performance Director, succeeding Morten Espersen who resigned earlier this year.

Irish Rowing — and those involved in the sport in Skibbereen — were yesterday celebrating an impressive medal haul from the World Cup Regatta in Belgrade.

A Cork town is in line for a €5m economic boost from major competitions due to take place at Ireland’s elite rowing centre over the next 18 months.

Business leaders in one of Cork’s largest towns will host a special event tomorrow night to celebrate the incredible successes of the National Rowing Centre based nearby.

Olympic medallists Paul and Gary O’Donovan’s rowing club has revealed ambitious expansion plans to ensure a conveyor belt of champions.

The low-profile coach credited as the driving force behind the O’Donovans’ silver medal success once banned Gary from Skibbereen Rowing Club for a week.

Rowing Ireland chief executive Hamish Adams hopes yesterday’s medal haul at the European Championships in Germany lays the foundation for glory at the Olympic Games in Rio later this year.

Hamish Adams is a New Zealander living and working in Ireland for 15 years. Formerly player services manager with IRUPA, he is now chief executive of Rowing Ireland who have sent a 14-person team to Poznan, Poland for this weekend’s European Rowing Championship.

Irish Olympian Sanita Puspure won a bronze medal in a thrilling women’s single sculls final at the European Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia yesterday.

Criminal gangs have targeted members of the Irish Olympic rowing team, stealing outboard engines from support boats and attempting to sell them abroad.

The Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association (IRUPA) has downplayed fears that more of its members will be forced to quit the game due to injuries.

TONY BUCKLEY might have a bright rugby future following some fine displays on Ireland’s recent tour of Australia and New Zealand, but he is no closer to nailing down an alternative job once his playing days are over.

When the present day Munster legends finally retire, is the province facing a barren period out of the limelight?

A CAREER in the professional ranks is the obvious target for thousands of young rugby players and those who make it to the top can expect rich financial rewards.

WHEN HE arrived, the first cameo only painted a fragment of the complete Lifeimi Mafi.

AFTER long spells out of action, International Gerry Flannery and Mossie Lawlor are back in the Munster picture with both named as reserves for the province’s A game against Leinster at Donnybrook today at 2pm.

JUST a couple of weeks ago, Munster’s second string side went to Shaw’s Bridge in Belfast and crushed a weakened Ulster opposition.

ONE of Munster’s brightest young stars, Darragh Hurley, has accepted a two-year full-time contract.

MUNSTER’s Development squad jetted out on a four-day camp to Biarritz last night keenly aware that the province’s unexpected Magners League crisis has propelled them into the spotlight.

THE good news for Munster rugby continues, with the Higher Education and Training Awards Council announcing yesterday that it has validated the Diploma in Professional Rugby run by Munster Rugby.

Euskarians (Basque) Development 26 Munster Development 42

The following is the Munster Development team to play Euskarians in San Sebastian on Saturday (4pm).

THE future of Munster’s elite rugby players has been entrusted to New Zealander Hamish Adams.

Munster 27, Connacht 27

The Munster Rugby Academy will be launched at Dolphin RFC next Saturday.

AIB League champions Ballymena are ready to spoil the party arranged by Belfast Harlequins as they both bid to finish in the semi-finals of the competition.

Dolphin 24 Ballymena 24

SHANNON will go for broke this weekend in search of another conclusive AIB League victory at Stevenson Park.

THE ORGANISERS of the Heineken European Cup are to press ahead with the final in Dublin.

Dolphin 38 Malone 6

Old Crescent 16 Dolphin 16

DOLPHIN are still sitting pretty on top of Division Two of the AIB League following a hard-fought victory over Midleton at Musgrave Park on Saturday.