Galway attracts 150-odd crews

Rowing/Weekend Preview: To many rowers, if it's the NUIG campus in Galway it must be spring and the Tribesmen head of the river. This weekend, however, the college is set to stage its own head, hoping to establish it as a fixture of the season.

There are two heads, run as time-trials, scheduled tomorrow, one beginning at 11am, the second at 2.30pm. There is an entry of 150-odd crews, with Galway and Munster well represented: the men's open eight features the host club, Cork Boat Club and St Michael's of Limerick.

Although Garda have a number of crews entered, there is some disappointment at the representation from Dublin clubs. The organisers hope that if the event goes well there will be an even more comprehensive representation in coming years.

The weather, as ever, will be a key consideration. Indeed, another event scheduled for this weekend, the Ilen Armada in Skibbereen, has been cancelled until further notice.

Next weekend has an even busier programme at the top end of the sport. There are regional time-trials scheduled for Leinster (Blessington, Saturday), Munster (NRC, Sunday) and Ulster (Newry Canal, Sunday).

Off the water, the Commercial club in Dublin have been officially informed that they will not face a fine due to the ruling that one of their members, Rob Michael, was ineligible at the National Championships.

On the bigger stage, the world governing body, FISA, has chosen Iztok Cop (pronounced Chop) and Luka Spik as the male crew of the year. As a double scull, the Slovenians won gold at the World Championships, but they were also part of the quadruple scull which won silver. New Zealand's achievements at the championships - they won four golds - have been recognised in the naming of head coach Richard Tonks as coach of the year. The prizes will be presented at the the world rowing forum in Istanbul tomorrow week.

In Dublin on the same night, rowing people will converge on the Mansion House for the official send-off party for Gearóid Towey and Ciarán Lewis, who are set to begin their Atlantic row in three weeks. All proceeds go to the Irish Cancer Society and the Merchant's Quay Project.