Rowing Ireland has strengthened its coaching capacity in the rapidly growing discipline of beach sprint rowing, with our Coach Developer Luke Smyth successfully completing a World Rowing–accredited Beach Sprint Coaching course. This achievement represents an important step in our commitment to developing coastal and beach sprint rowing nationwide and ensuring clubs and athletes have access to high-quality, modern coaching expertise.
The course, delivered by the World Rowing Academy, took place in Antalya, Türkiye, in early October 2025. Luke was among a select group of just 15 coaches from 10 European nations invited to take part in the intensive three-day programme, which focused on the specific technical, tactical, and logistical demands of beach sprint and coastal rowing. The course combined classroom-based learning with extensive practical sessions on the water, covering key areas such as safe on-water coaching, launching and landing techniques, race tactics, and course setup for training and competition.
By completing this specialised course, Rowing Ireland’s members now benefits from in-house expertise aligned with World Rowing best practice in beach sprint coaching. The knowledge and practical experience gained by Luke will directly support Rowing Ireland’s long-term plans to grow the discipline across the island, particularly as beach sprint rowing continues to gain international prominence, including its inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
Building on this achievement, Rowing Ireland’s Coach Education Department is developing new workshops and learning opportunities aimed at raising the standard of beach sprint coaching available to clubs and athletes across the island. These workshops will be informed by the latest international insights and practical methodologies gained through the World Rowing programme and will be delivered in the coming months.
Rowing Ireland remains committed to investing in coach education as a cornerstone of sustainable growth and success. Luke’s completion of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Coaching course, and his receipt of the World Rowing Coach Development Award, ensures that Rowing Ireland is well positioned to support the continued development of beach sprint and coastal rowing across the country.
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Photo Source: World Rowing
