International oarswoman Leonora Kennedy - whose ‘ultimate aim’ is to compete in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 - was on a recent visit back home to the Fermanagh Lakelands.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Rowing Ireland set up in early summer, stopped off in Enniskillen on her return from South Korea, where she competed in her biggest event to date - the recent Senior World Championships. A few days were also spent in London, enabling her to catch up with friends and pay a visit to her brother.

After a short break in the county, she was on the road again as she set off to visit her grandmother and other family members in Connemara, before returning to Cork and resuming her training programme at the National Rowing Centre at Inniscarra Lake, County Cork.

The first trials are on September 28, explained Leonora, who moved to Rowing Ireland from the Great Britain set up.

“I was training with the GB squad up until May and then moved to the Irish set up in early June,” explained Leonora.

She is pleased with her move to Ireland, although she is also appreciative of what she gained through GB and says she “learned a lot” from all the racing she did with them.

“I moved here because I could see my potential going further in Ireland,” felt Leonora, who feels she will work better within the Irish system. In August past, she competed at her first Senior World Championships. She represented Ireland in the women’s double sculls with partner Monika Dukarska and it was a big step up. Previously the Fermanagh woman enjoyed successes at Under-23 world championships, world university championships and European championships.

She describes Ireland Lead Coach Don McLachlan as a very good coach and she mentions that with the Ireland programme, it can be be tailored “to what is specific to you”.

On her move to Ireland, where the training squad is much smaller, she feels she has chosen her path and can see where she is going.

“Hopefully I will do better at the World Championships next year,” feels Leonora, who adds ‘Don’s programme works if you put the work in.’ She says she is enjoying the training programme in Ireland and said that hopefully they will break from the winter season in Cork with other training camps.

Looking forward to next year’s competitions, Leonora said the Senior World Championships are a target.

Other races will be two World Cups, one in France and one in Switzerland, and the European Championships in Serbia.

“I am targeting all these events, culminating with the Senior World championships in Amsterdam.” She points out that the Irish boats 2013/2014 will hopefully be a women’s single, a women’s double and women’s pair and at this stage she admits that she does not know what she will be in.

Looking further ahead, she said that Rio 2016 is her plan and she will very much work towards that.

“It’s my ultimate aim and I will strive for that,” disclosed Leonora, who points out that the qualifying regatta is the 2015 World Championships.

“There is lots of work to be done,” admits Leonora, adding “but we will hopefully build on what we achieved this year in such a short space of time.” It was nice being home for the Enniskillen athlete, who said it had ‘been very relaxed’, with her mum and dad looking after her!

“It’s been great,” said Leonora, who during her time in the county joined her father Iain for a game of tennis.

“I had not played in years,” mentioned Leonora, who was her dad’s doubles partner and described it as “fun”.

During her break, she also did a spinning class at Fermanagh Lakeland Forum. She acknowledges Fermanagh District Council and thanks them for her recent membership of the Silver Card Scheme.

Having now returned to Cork, it’s back to the grindstone for the Fermanagh rower, who greatly enjoyed her well-earned break while it lasted.