ROWING:THE ILL winds of this weekend have forced the cancellation of the national assessment trial which was fixed for Newry canal tomorrow – but it is full steam ahead for the Rowing Ireland Indoor Championships tomorrow at Dublin City University.

The championships have been revived this year and have the major boost of being a key part of the selection process for international teams.

Ireland performance director Martin McElroy said athletes must prove themselves at this event if they are to be eligible to compete at the next water-based assessment in February.

Some athletes may be given leeway for injuries.

The entry, according to organiser Lisa Hayden, is “just under 600”, and she said the weather is unlikely to disrupt competition.

Sanita Puspure, fresh from taking a silver medal at the British Indoor Championships, should top the women’s rankings, but under-23 competitor Lisa Dilleen has also proved herself in this discipline: she was the junior champion at the British Indoor Championships in 2009.

Seán Jacob of UCD and Colin Williamson of Queen’s University could prove to the be the big hitters in the men’s open category, and it will be interesting to see if six minutes is broken for the 2,000 metre test – or how often.

The under-23 open category features twins Turlough Hughes, representing UCD, and Patrick of Trinity.

Queen’s athletes look set to be much more active in the Ireland set-up this year, and five of their senior athletes, including Rory O’Connor and Abdulrahman Mohamed, are entered in the open category.

Sam Lynch, who has just turned 35, has entered the lightweight trial, where he can test himself against young guns such as Mark O’Donovan, Michael Maher and Anthony English. Cathal Moynihan is absent due to injury.

The women’s lightweight group could be our most competitive in the year ahead. Sinead Lambe and Siobhán McCrohan, who teamed up to good effect this year, are both entered.

Irishman Keith Whelan faces some outdoor rowing in the year ahead – but he should not have to worry about the unpredictable weather. He has set out to become the first Irishman to row solo across the Indian Ocean, with a start date in April. The plan is to row from Australia to Mauritius, which is off the east coast of Africa.

He is hoping to raise money for the Keep a Child Alive charity, but has been finding it hard to find sponsorship.

Whelan took up the sport to attempt this challenge.