Coxed four in the frame

ROWING:A crucial month for Irish rowing might just start off on a good note in Varese, Italy, this weekend. Ireland have seven crews entered in the Coupe de la Jeunesse, a European championships for juniors, and the team would hope to bring home some silverware.

The 12 nations competing include Britain, the World Cup champions France, and Italy - but crucially not Germany, who have traditionally been the strongest rowing nation in Europe.

Ireland's best hope of a medal may be in the men's coxed four, as there are only five crews entered. Tomorrow and Sunday will feature heats and finals.

The closing ceremony will see Ireland presented with the Coupe flag, as the competition will be held at the National Rowing Centre in Cork next July.

The Carrick-on-Shannon Sprints on Sunday give home-based athletes a chance of some autumn competition.

The strength of our senior team at Beijing will be overwhelmingly determined by the performance of our crews at the World Championships in Munich, which begin three weeks on Sunday. Elite lightweight Richard Archibald has recovered after injury and has been training with the Irish squad in St Moritz.

Archibald, Paul Griffin and Eugene Coakley will form three-quarters of the lightweight four in Munich, with Harald Jahrling trialling Liam Molloy of NUIG and Cathal Moynihan of Neptune for the other seat. There are 11 qualification places for Beijing available for this crew in Munich.

The lightweight women's double of Sinéad Jennings and Niamh Ní Cheilleachair and the men's four are reportedly moving well in training. The qualification places in Munich for these crews are 11 and eight respectively.

COUPE DE LA JEUNESSE (Junior Championships, Varese, Italy, August 3rd-5th) - IRELAND: Men - Four: N Kenny (Col Iognaid), F Manning (St Michael's), J McDonald (St Michael's), D McGuigan (St Joseph's). Four, Coxed: P Hanily (St Michael's), J Heskin (St Joseph's), M Humphreys (Methodist College, Belfast), C Donohue (Galway RC), N McInernery (St Michael's, cox). Pair: A Hogan (St Michael's), N Pollock (Methodist College). Sculling, Quadruple: P Chambers (Bann), C Doorley (Waterford), P Grogan (Offaly), K O'Shea (St Michael's). Single Scull: K Brady (Offaly). Women, Sculling (Quadruple and Single Scull): C O'Connor (St Michael's), L Dilleen (Tribesmen), C Lambe (Commercial), L Gannon (Neptune). Single Scull: L D'Urso.