Draws give Irish crews hope

ROWING: Ireland's two Olympic crews learned of their draws for Sunday's heats yesterday, and both have good reason to hope they can make it through to their semi-finals next Thursday without needing to compete in Tuesday's repêchages.

With temperatures already in the high 30s at the course in Schinias, and some weather forecasts predicting that the wind may pick up after the weekend, a voyage straight to the semi-finals could be particularly beneficial.

The lightweight double scull of Sam Lynch and Gearóid Towey must win their five-boat heat (7.30 a.m. Irish time) to progress and will face real contenders in the United States and the Czech Republic.

On the face of it, the lightweight men's four (8 o'clock Irish time) have the better chance of automatic qualification. Because there are only 13 entries in this class, three from each of the three heats go through to the semi-finals.

The Irish crew of Richard Archibald, Eugene Coakley, Niall O'Toole and Paul Griffin are in a four-boat heat, but have drawn the United States, Australia and Russia, none of whom will disappear without a fight.

In the most recent relevant races the Irish have, arguably, the best form of these crews, finishing fourth at the World Cup in Lucerne (June); second at the World Cup in Munich (May) and sixth in the World Championships last year in Milan.

Australia pipped Ireland for third in Munich, but have no other relevant form as they did not compete in the other World Cup events this year and their crew for the World Championships was significantly different. The United States made the B finals in Lucerne and Munich and Russia finished third in the weaker first World Cup event in Poznan, Poland.

In these circumstances it is hardly surprising that Ireland coach Thor Nilsen warns against trying too hard to predict results, instead concentrating on his own two crews, who he says are fit for action.

"The boys are ready and prepared to fight," he said last evening before adding that he firmly believed both crews could qualify.

The double scull faces Belgium, Uruguay, the United States and the Czech Republic, with Nilsen agreeing that the US and Czech Republic "are very good crews".

"If all else is equal and "Gags" (Towey) is fit we should be able to take them," he said. According to the experts Towey has fully recovered from the virus which ended the crew's participation in Lucerne, but the missed competition cannot be replaced.

"They have not raced as a lightweight double over 2,000 metres for a long time," admitted Nilsen.

Lynch and Towey competed as lightweights in both the heats and repêchage in Lucerne, but Towey's virus ended the regatta for them. The Corkman said that he "had not got it in the tank" near the end of the repêchage when they were battling it out with world champions Italy.

The US crew of Steve Tucker and Greg Ruckman did particularly well in Lucerne, finishing fourth in the A final. The Czech Republic finished fifth in Poznan and second in the B final in Munich, while Belgium's one relevant result was a sixth place in the same regatta.

Back in Ireland, the withdrawal of Rob Cronin from the lightweight four for next month's World University Championships has proved controversial and has drawn some fire.

"I feel extremely sorry for the other three guys in the crew who were anxious to row for Ireland," said IARU president Frank Durkin yesterday.

Work commitments have ruled out Kenny McCarthy and Joanne Moran, leaving a team of just four crews: the men's four (Alan Martin, Paul Giblin, Marc Stephens and Cormac Folan) and lightweight double (Danny O'Dowd and Diarmuid Mac Colgain) and two women scullers - Joanne Moran (open) and Niamh Ní Chéilleachair (lightweight).

OLYMPIC DRAW (Sunday session, Irish interest): Lightweight Men's Double - Heat Four (7.30 a.m. Irish time): Belgium, Uruguay, Ireland (S Lynch, G Towey), United States, Czech Republic.

Lightweight Men's Four - Heat Three (8.0 Irish time): United States, Ireland (R Archibald, E Coakley, N O'Toole, P Griffin), Australia, Russia.