Search


Burrows on Olympic Trail again
Author: Graham Smith Posted on: 14/1/11 Print Version


After a gap of seven years since the last of his three Olympic Games' participations, David Burrows is preparing for a fourth challenge, this time as crew for Peter O'Leary of Royal Cork YC in a campaign for the Star Class nomination for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta at Weymouth.

David started his Olympic experience in the Star Class at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, crewing with another Cork sailor Mark Mansfield.

He later qualified as Ireland's Finn Class representative at the next two Games, in Sydney in 2000 and Athens four years later. In recent years, he has been highly active in the Etchells Class and competed with his father Richard and sister Samantha in the Etchells Worlds at Howth last September.

David Burrows
 
With O'Leary (who won last year's Sail for Gold Regatta at Weymouth with a German crew), David has just completed an intensive training programme in Miami and among the events on their qualification schedule will be the Star Europeans in Dublin Bay later this year. O'Leary, who sailed in the last Olympics, is a triple Laser National Champion and a former ISA All-Ireland Championship winner and is widely regarded as one of the top sailors of his generation.

David Burrows' previous Olympic experience will bring an added dimension to the Corkman's challenge, firstly for selection and perhaps for greater honours.