Neptune the crew to beat

If the god who controls the weather believes in fair play, tomorrow's Trinity Regatta at Islandbridge should go ahead in blazing sunshine and benign winds.

Last year this event could euphemistically have been described as a disappointment - competitors were often drier than the rain-sodden spectators, and the racing schedule slipped away like the fridge which drifted down the swollen Liffey early in the day.

This year the organisers have resolved to return the regatta to former glory: a programme of social events has been planned and foreign crews are scheduled to take part. If the weather does play along it might just be the place to be seen in Dublin tomorrow.

To make the day complete, of course, top-class competition is necessary. The trials for prospective Irish entrants to the first World Cup regatta in Hazewinkel, Belgium, put the biggest clash - between the Trinity and Neptune eights - in some doubt, but as of yesterday arrangements were being made to make sure the top two could take part. If both win through to the final they are scheduled to meet in the last race of the day at 6.35 p.m.

Neptune had an embarrassing time at this regatta last year, losing the semi-final when they mistook the ringing of a bicycle bell for the sign to stop. But if they line out tomorrow, it is hard to see Neptune's eight, fresh from their record-breaking victory in their own regatta where the beat Trinity, being beaten.

Trinity, who will be stroked by William Gilbert, will face either Commercial or Tyneside in their semi-final, while Neptune must beat Garda. Darren Barber, who won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, is studying at Trinity but will not be available.

The addition of the Corcoran Cup, the women's colours race between UCD and Trinity, should also spice up the competition on the day, and the women's novice colours race is also pencilled in.

Today's trials at Blessington, which will be attended by national coach Thor Nilsen, may be fiercely competitive. The clash of Niall O'Toole - our only gold medallist at a World Championship, in 1991 - and Albert Maher, who came so close to winning the London scullers head of the river last weekend may be the highlight.

The lightweight four, reportedly in outstanding form, will not be broken up, but rather tested against other combinations.

Last weekend's extraordinary general meeting of the IARU yielded the expected result, with no votes against the strategic plan.