Rowing National Championships What should be one of the most fascinating National Championships in years begins today at the National Rowing Centre in Farran Wood, Cork.

The presence of the elite athletes, who have made their mark internationally, adds particular spice to a number of events - and many were already difficult to call because the weather-disrupted domestic season has produced little in the way of dependable form.

The men's senior eight should belong to NUIG tomorrow night, but then they looked like hot favourites last year only to lose out to Commercial.

The Galway college have two ace cards in the persons of internationals Alan Martin and Cormac Folan. On the domestic scene, at Henley Royal Regatta and at under-23 level, the presence of Martin in the stroke seat has been a huge plus. He does not turn 24 until this day week, but the Ireland open four he strokes gained points at each of the World Cup events this year.

The rest of the NUIG crew entered is made up almost entirely of athletes who have moved into the Ireland system, and Dave Mannion, Marc Stevens, Paul Giblin and John Forde formed the crew that won the Visitors' Cup at Henley this year.

So, no contest? Hardly. Seven crews have entered, and virtually all have some reason to hope a good row would put them into contention.

Defending champions Commercial have three of the crew that won the Quadruple Sculls at Henley - Niall O'Toole, Albert Maher and Con Collis - along with Seán Jacob of the Ireland open four.

The UCD/Cork/Skibbereen composite have a stern pair of internationals in Siaghal and Diarmaid Mac Colgain, an international bowman in Jonny Devitt, and big men in the middle of the boat in Eamonn Joyce and John Wholley.

Commercial think the fours and eights events are too close together and have kept their powder dry for the eight.

The competition between recent internationals, those who are part of the system at the moment and those who want to get in, should make for one of the themes of the regatta.

In the senior pair, for instance, Folan and Martin are set to meet Paul Griffin and Richard Archibald from the gold medal-winning lightweight four, and Siaghal and Diarmaid Mac Colgain, who are pencilled in for this discipline at the World Championships.

But big men like Wholley and Joyce from Skibbereen and Cork and Dave Kealy and Rob Laird from Lady Elizabeth will hardly feel the race is lost before they take to the water.

In the senior single scull, Seán Casey and Seán Jacob of the Ireland four may have a private struggle for bragging rights, but Eugene Coakley, Archibald and Wholley are also entered.

It is a pity there is no DULBC presence in the women's senior eights. The four-boat entry promises a good race, however. UCD should win, but Neptune and NUIG have shown form this year, and Queen's and the Bluecoat/Commercial composite have some big names on board.

Like Martin and Folan in the men's draw, the names of Commercial's Vanessa Lawrenson and Becky Quinn recur regularly in the women's events. They should carry off a pot or more here. The Commercial quadruple they form with Susan O'Brien and Siobhán Jacob looks particularly strong.

The women's single scull also sees Jacob in action, but Heather Boyle and heavyweight Caroline Ryan will be big contenders.

If the organisation and quality of this event are even close to those of the trials it will be a spectacular success.

Two new catamarans have been purchased, as has a photo-finish camera and a timing system, at least for the day.

Spectator facilities are still only a dream, but on the water it could be a blast.