Regatta season begins at Neptune

ROWING: At the start of a crucial three-week period for Irish rowing, which includes the national trials next weekend and the Trinity regatta a week later, two regattas - Neptune (tomorrow) and Commercial (Sunday) - and Skibbereen's head of the river (also on Sunday) get the show on the road.

Neptune's world champion lightweight pair of Tony O'Connor and Gearóid Towey have been training in Hazewinkel in Belgium and will not compete at their own regatta.

The club will field what they see as a nascent Thames Cup crew for Henley as their senior one eight. They face Queen's and, if they come through that, a Trinity/Lady Elizabeth composite if they are to reach the final. On the other side of the draw, Garda should overcome Old Collegians and take on UCD in the semi-final.

Garda have two crews in the senior one coxed four, but it will be a shock if Neptune don't win out - their four has the "heavy" men from their Ladies Plate crew, Albert Maher, Ciarán Lewis, Seán Jacob and Kevin Boyle.

Commercial will reproduce what should be the key eights semi-final on Saturday, between UCD and Garda, with the host crew set to take on the winners.

Skibbereen's head at Inniscarra has a big entry, featuring young crews from the west and south.