Vienna and Athlone centre of attention

On another bumper weekend for rowing at home and abroad the focus will be on four of our top crews competing at the World Cup regatta at Vienna and what may be a telling eights contest at Athlone tomorrow.

News from Vienna is that the lightweight four and the two lightweight double sculls face tough challenges but are fit and ready for action, starting today. Sculling coach Mick Desmond has, however, opted not to enter the lightweight quadruple scull in the heavyweight event, reporting that Eugene Coakley has a heat rash. The crew will now face just two races in the lightweight competition tomorrow and Sunday.

The lightweight four, fresh from a good showing last Saturday at the Norwegian national regatta where they were just pipped by the Norwegian quad, face 15 other fours, including world champions Denmark.

In the last World Cup regatta at Hazewinkel the Irish double scull did poorly, so some pressure rests on the new pairings of Gearoid Towey and James Lyndsay-Finn and Niall O'Toole and Neal Byrne, who will take on 23 other doubles.

Back in Ireland the regattas at Athlone tomorrow and Galway on Sunday are the focus of attention. Seven crews are entered for the senior eights at Athlone; Neptune's absence may set up an interesting competition, with Trinity, Garda, UCC and Commercial all fancying their chances. A crew from Fordham University in the United States adds another angle.

Henley Women's regatta has drawn a number of Irish entries: single scullers Ailis Holohan and Medhb Terry compete, along with eights from Neptune and UCD, a four from NUIG and a junior eight and two junior fours from Carlow. Offaly's Ni Cheilleachair sisters, Niamh and Ciara, also compete.