Subject: Looking unlikely for Laser olympic qualification
From Worlds follower
11 February 2008 at 17:14:05
With tough conditions in Terrigal Bay, it's looking unlikely that any of the 3 rock stars are going to Qualify the nation. Think the 3 deserve much admiration and respect for giving it their all. Even Goodie is struggling with the changable conditions!!
From Derby
12 February 2008 at 22:25:25
seems like money is the root of the problem. a lot of posts here take the "ah sher they are great sailors and theyve tried their best" attitude. I think this is unhelpful and distracts from the fact there is an issue in irish sailing. I think these guys should be getting far more money in funding and maybe that would encourage more world class laser sailors thus boosting the whole Irish effort.
From follower
15 February 2008 at 20:17:58
Missed out by 1 nation place. Thats so unfortunate. But you cant fault any of these guys because they all have been giving their all in the last few months but you need some luck as well. They tried their best and thats all you can do! ANyway they are all reasonably young and defo on target for 2012 because apart from slingsby,the others goody, vasilli, and co are all in their late 20's to 30's so its good experience!
From m
13 February 2008 at 00:55:45
well before you start bashing dont forget that it was roger who actually qualified Ireland for the last olympics. He beat rory at the worlds in turkey. He has just had a bad regatta this week. Definitely funding is a major issue. Having been involved with sports councils in england - it is well known that Ireland has a "funny" sports council. the lack of support doesn't help laser sailors.
From m
13 February 2008 at 15:13:42
results are out, sadly no Irish laser at the olympics this year.
From Unlucky gents but...
15 February 2008 at 23:34:58
Commiserations to Ryan, Roger and James. It is a shame that no9ne of them made the grade for the olympics. However lets not forget they have had some great results over the last couple of years. It isn't that long since it looked like Roger was going to smash the glass ceiling and move to a truly world class level. James too has had some awesome results, if anything he has been more impressive at home than roger. Yet they have both also taken time to coach and help the rest of us. And ryan, what a start for a young lad. Hopefully he can improve and improve! So all in all well done! Makes you wonder what affect not sending Lasenby to Sydney had on the irish fleet? If I remember rightly he had a few top 20 results at Grade 1's would we have been dragged along by him??????
From steve
11 February 2008 at 18:43:27
never say never.. there's still 9 nation places up for grab and all the competitors in the gold fleet have already qualified. come on the lads in green!!!
From m
11 February 2008 at 19:23:24
if they keep their positions as of today - they will qualify in the last nation place.
From Irish sailor
12 February 2008 at 16:21:27
James won the nationals by a fair bit, so is arguably our best sailor and manages mid bronze fleet? You think we should be proud? I'll support the boys all the way, but when they can't deliver in grade 1 events then where does that leave us? Ryan has done pretty well, i'll say that. I feel that Ireland has more to give than this. The best sailors in thw world deliver from youth level right through. Our best sailors are the ones that just stick at it the most, or have enough cash. Yes I am embarrassed that Ireland is posting lowly results when we have the potential for so much more. Tim Goodbody delivers results. Credit where credit is due. Its not the taking part that counts.
From Irish sailor
12 February 2008 at 14:36:50
Rock bottom of the silver fleet and mid bronze fleet is, frankly, not good enough. Fair played for their efforts but i'm embarrassed.
From paul
12 February 2008 at 15:08:43
your embarrassed? why would you be embarrassed? you should try supporting our sailors when they go away to compete. roger is carrying a dnc and an ocs. ryan is still young and james won the irish nationals by a fair bit. the laser fleet is f***in competitive also, look at the sailors at the event, the 2004 olympics silver medalist is only 2 places infront of ryan. what does that say about the standard of sailor in the fleet?
From Follower
12 February 2008 at 17:10:12
It doesn't take much to sit behind a computer and critisise what we have. It takes a lot more to decide not to work/earn money and to have the dedication to mount a campaign instead. No matter what the results are, I and many others will know the time and effort that goes into campaigning an olympic class, and that in itself deserves respect.
From Ahem
12 February 2008 at 17:58:10
When you have the results to show them how it is done then you can criticise. Personally I'll be out training and rocking up at the events. Maybe if we all do this and put a bit more pressure on the lads we can proud to say we help push them onto greater things. "Even ordinary effort over time yields extraordinary results"
From paul
12 February 2008 at 18:51:06
yes strangely enough i think we should be proud, the lads over at the worlds have given al lot to compete time money.... potential for so much more? its hard for the irish laser guys who as far as im aware are not getting funding, course theres potential but there needs to be support for the sailors. of course the best sailors are the ones that stick at it, its the same in any sport. quitters dont tend to be the best. and in order to win you have to compete first. Irish sailors have got results at youth level but the step up to olympic level takes time, it seems that before a sailor reach that standard the funding stops
From John
16 February 2008 at 21:09:03
so whats the craic with the ladies then?
From m
18 February 2008 at 17:26:01
good point about jon lasenby! this was a sailor who was once 24th at a Laser worlds, and not sent to the olympics. would love to see an Irish sailor repeat that!
From Think back
20 February 2008 at 20:05:05
It wasn't that long ago that GBR were far from a dominant force in world sailing, lasers incl. They had some good guys but GOLD was not what was expected as the norm. The guys who go full time, one will crack it and move up the rankings his nearest competitors will be left lagging but will catch up. By travelling to big events the full time gents are giving themselves the best chance of being that person. I am sure that withinthe next olympiad someone will emerge!