Heavyweights take direct route to world final

ROWING: Ireland's heavyweight men's four won their heat yesterday to progress directly to tomorrow's final at the World University Championships in Brive in France.

The crew of Cormac Folan, Paul Giblin, Marc Stephens and Alan Martin, all from NUIG, won their battle with Germany by 1,500 metres to secure the one automatic qualification spot. In July, competing for NUIG, they made it to the semi-final of the Visitors' Cup at Henley.

Poland won yesterday's other heat, holding off Britain, who, like Germany, have to compete in the repêchage.

Éimear Moran, taking part in the open single scull, also made it through directly to the next round - in her case the semi-final - by finishing third in her heat.

Her Offaly clubmate Niamh Ní Cheilleachair had less luck in the lightweight single. A late change in the schedule meant she had to win her heat to progress to the final and as she finished third she must compete in a repêchage.

The lightweight men's pair of Danny O'Dowd and Diarmuid Mac Colgain will also take the repêchage route after also finishing third, with one to go through directly.

Robert Cronin, who was part of the lightweight four that was set to compete in Brive, yesterday explained his withdrawal saying he was "mentally and physically exhausted" after a tough season and had also picked up a rib injury at the World under-23 Regatta last month.

Cronin's fellow Corkman Gearóid Towey seems to be suffering no ill effects of his Olympic experience. He is back home and resting and "able to eat and behave like a normal person for a while" - but his upcoming schedule is hardly what anybody would consider restful.

Tomorrow fortnight (September 18th) he will take part in the Sea to Source Challenge on the Blackwater river, travelling the full length of the waterway in a leg-sapping odyssey in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. He will row the 27 kilometres from Youghal to Cappoquin; run from Cappoquin to Fermoy (37 kilometres); and cycle from Fermoy to Ballydesmond, which is about 93 kilometres. Other Irish athletes will complete different sections with him.

Like his lightweight doubles partner Sam Lynch, Towey is also entered in the single sculls at the Head of the Charles in Boston, Massachusetts, which takes place on October 23rd and 24th, although Towey has not made a decision on whether he will definitely compete.

At the less testing end of the sport, this weekend's World Masters Regatta in Hamburg draws together thousands of competitors ranging in age from 27 to the mid-80s. Ireland's Old Collegians have some of the most successful veterans in the sport.

Off the water, one of the best-known officials in the sport worldwide, Mike Sweeney, has resigned from FISA, the world governing body. He will continue to be chairman of Henley Royal Regatta.