ROWING:EIGHT IRISH crews go into action today at the lift-off of a Henley Royal Regatta which could yield rich pickings for the Irish. While the hopes as the week go on may rest increasingly on fours from NUIG and Galway Rowing Club and the Old Collegians/London quadruple scull, the big boats are the primary focus today.

Four Irish crews contest the Temple for student eights. UCD have two crews and strongly-grounded chances in this event, but they suffered a blow on Monday when Seán O’Neill, the number-four man in their A crew, injured his shoulder in a fall from a bicycle. Colm Pierce was called in from Ireland to replace the unfortunate 22-year-old.

The draw remains promising for UCD, in more ways than one. Their A crew faces Eton College today, and are likely to progress, as Eton had to come through the qualifiers. The UCD B crew also faces a fellow qualifier in Shrewsbury School. If they come through UCD A will face UCD B tomorrow.

“It would be the highlight of UCD rowing for many a year if the two crews were to meet in the last 16 here,” said senior coach Colm Daly.

Trinity are in the same side of the draw, but may struggle. Their inexperienced crew face Bates College from the United States today, and if they make it through they are set to face seeded crew ASR Nereus from the Netherlands tomorrow.

Queen’s have had better luck. They would hope to take out Cambridge University lightweights today, but then are set to take on a big American crew in the seeded Brown University tomorrow.

Commercial are double-handed today, with their seeded eight likely to make a winning start today in the Thames Cup for club crews. Galway Rowing Club’s challenge in this event looks more testing, with Molesey set to await them should they get through today’s first round.

Commercial’s young Wyfold four also have a difficult challenge, taking on a seeded crew, Sydney, in the first round today.

The Fermoy coxed four in the Britannia are the other Irish representatives today. They are seeded, and look to have an excellent chance of making progress.

The club has confirmed that the five men involved are club members, but there is a strong NUIG feel to this unit. It is coached by NUIG coach Tom Tuohy and coxed by long-time NUIG cox Ruadhan Cooke.

Henry Tindal, who won a National Championship in the senior eight with Trinity last year, is also involved.

The draw has been kind to the Galway crews in the Visitors’ Cup for coxless fours. Both NUIG and Galway Rowing Club are seeded, and they would only meet if both reach the final.