SWIMMING: Leinster can take a bow for being the most progressive unit in Irish swimming following the appointment of former British team coach Terry Dennison.

Dennison, one of the most knowledgable tutors and administrators in Europe, has been engaged by the province to develop and co-ordinate its competitive strengths.

The former British Olympic boss has met most of the 24 swimmers who will form the basis of Team Leinster. The plan is to provide the top swimmers from each club with the opportunity to work together on a regular basis. The next session is arranged for Limerick's 50-metre pool next month.

An important aspect of the scheme is to encourage average club swimmers to aspire to qualifying for Dennison's elite group of competitors. Additional names are almost certain to be added to the Team Leinster group following this weekend's Leinster Open Championships at the National Aquatic Centre, Abbotstown.

Because these championships are by tradition staged over short course, the 50-metre facility at the venue will not be used. With a number of swimmers training abroad in the run-up to the Athens Olympics some titles would appear to be up for grabs but Muiris Ó Riada stands out as the one to beat in his events.

The interest shown by European federations in next month's Leisureland meet has been described as exceptional by Swim Ireland PRO Claire Mulholland but the Salthill organisers are advised to restrict entries to national ones due to the funding impasse. Organisers are appealing to commercial interests to become involved.

The first Irish long-course championships are fixed for Abbotstown on April 16th-18th while the Irish Schools' Championships go ahead at Leisureland on February 6th-7th.