Enniskillen Royal Boat Club coach Derek Holland knew he had two talented rowers on his hands when Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney first joined the club.

And they have gone on to show that they also have the drive and determination required to make it at elite level in the sport with the duo having linked up to take bronze for Ireland in the Men’s Pair at the recent World Championships in Belgrade - and in doing so qualify the boat for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Holland remembers that they both showed ability from the outset and they displayed that at Irish level in those Junior years,

“Ross was first to join and Nathan joined the year later and I always remember that both of them had raw talent when they came in the door.

“They were both winning championships in their first year and Nathan went on to win seven Junior Irish Championships with us and Ross certainly would have four Junior Irish Championships.

“They were just outstanding young lads when they came through and all we did was help them on the way,” said Holland.

Having competed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Holland is well aware of the commitment needed to be at that level and he acknowledges that Nathan and Ross have been rewarded for their commitment with their performances on the big stage.

“It is a lifestyle choice, the road they have to go down.

“I know from myself having rowed at the Olympics, you come out of school and go to University but you have to go at it full time. There is a big risk and a big sacrifice and they are willing to pay the price so you have to hand it to them, not everybody will do that.

“You have to be selfish where they are, and that’s what they are; they are selfish in the manner that they are very driven. They always wanted to go to an Olympic Games and they have now qualified,” he added.

Immense

To have taken World bronze and qualified the boat is a huge achievement and Holland stresses that there is an immense amount of work that has gone into getting to this stage.

“For two lads at a very young age to be doing that, it is exceptional and everybody is delighted for them.

“People will not realise what they are going through day in, day out, they are just seeing the happy smiling faces on the podium but the hardship they are going through just to get there is immense.

“I was just thinking about it the other day, we think that we are training hard but a hard week for us would be 220km a week on the water and then all the weights and stuff but these guys are probably touching close to 300km on a hard week on the water plus all the extra in the gym.

“It is incredible and that is the level and the standard they are now at.”

The big thing between now and the Olympics for them is to stay fit and healthy, according to Holland.

“It is ten months out from the Olympics so the key thing is they have to stay healthy and hold their form for another ten months and hopefully it goes well for them next year.”

And to have the two rowers qualifying for the Olympics is a massive boost for Enniskillen Royal Boat Club.

“We’ve had previous junior rowers compete at international level but we’ve only had a couple of junior rowers who have gone on to senior level, the likes of Holly Nixon, Ryan Ballantine and Lloyd Seaman.

“To see these guys actually medal at senior World Championship is absolutely incredible. It wasn’t that long ago that people around here were watching Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent in a pair, but to see two young lads from Enniskillen in a pair and medalling at the same standard as someone like Pinsent and Redgrave in their hayday is great for the club,” he commented.

It is also a big thing for the current junior rowers at the club to see how far that the duo have progressed and there was smiles all around last Saturday when they brought their medals to the Boat Club to show to the young rowers.

“It is great for the juniors to have these guys who have come from here and achieved that.

Inspiration

“It will give the young kids inspiration as well to knuckle down and do well. We have quite a few talented young people and there is nothing stopping them following the two boys on to great things if that’s something they want to do and if they are willing to make the sacrifices,” said Holland.

And he says that there will be plenty of locals who will be keen to travel to Paris to get behind Ross and Nathan next year.

“We keep a very close eye on all our rowers and to see these two guys going to the Olympics; I’m sure there will be a big contingent scrambling to get tickets for Paris next year.

“I have been trying to source tickets myself to go over to watch them and I know others are too.

“It will be fingers crossed that all goes well and they get there because it will be very exciting to watch two young lads from County Fermanagh competing on that stage next summer.

“There will be a massive interest in it and they will have nothing to lose, just go for it and enjoy it.”