Neptune withdraw eights entry

One of the questions constantly asked in Irish rowing over the last few months has been answered - Neptune will not send an eight to the Henley Royal Regatta next weekend. The club had made an official entry in the Ladies Plate, one of the premier events at the prestigious regatta, but have now withdrawn it.

The national lightweight four, which had made up half of the Neptune eight which won the national title last year, had to pull out of the World Cup regatta at Vienna last weekend. With their focus now firmly fixed on the final World Cup regatta next month at Lucerne, competing at Henley has been cancelled.

However, the Irish entry for the event is still a relatively strong one. Trinity have entered two eights in the Temple while University College Cork have also entered.

Garda Siochana Boat Club have entered for the Thames despite losing club captain Graham Tolan for the summer with mumps. Pat Gannon who deputised in Athlone, and may do so again.

The Wyfolds will see two Irish entries with both the Neptune's and Commercial's senior fours taking part.

The "Rowfest" to commemorate the centenary of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union starts at the Islandbridge boathouses tomorrow at 10 a.m. Boats will row to the Point theatre and return to Islandbridge for a barbecue.