ROWING: IRISH ROWERS have recorded fine results on the international stage this year, taking medals at the World Under-23 and World University Championships, and two crews will hope to finish the season on a high note when they represent Ireland at the European Championships in Portugal next weekend.

Martin McElroy, the national performance director, confirmed yesterday Ireland will be represented only by adaptive athletes at the World Championships in October/November in New Zealand, elevating the Europeans to the level of a season-ending test for the crews coached by Adrian Cassidy and Rob Baker.

The lightweight women’s double scull of Claire Lambe and Siobhán McCrohan reached the A Final at the first World Cup regatta in Bled in Slovenia in May, and have a strong chance of at least matching this performance – and perhaps medalling – at Montemor-o-Velho next weekend.

The lightweight men’s double of Niall Kenny and Mark O’Donovan will have a tougher assignment.

While they formed half of the quadruple scull which took silver at the World Under-23 Championships in July, they are a scratch crew in the 20-strong entry.

Again, a hopeful sign is some of the strongest crews in the event – including New Zealand, Canada and Britain – will not be travelling.

Bad news on the domestic front is the Monkstown and Cork Harbour regatta – pencilled in as a Grand League event next weekend – has been cancelled due to insufficient senior entries.

However, the annual sculling challenge will take place tomorrow in Belfast.

Representatives of the Cork, Dublin and Limerick sculling ladders and the Belfast Sculling League will compete.

The Irish Indoor Championships are to be revived this year, in early December.

The agm of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union has been set for October 2nd.