ROWING: Ireland's lightweight men's four will need to find their best form early if they are to advance directly to the finals of the World Cup regatta at Munich, which begins today.
The crew face two Polish outfits, Britain and Italy 2 in today's heat (11.48am Irish time). Only the winner will advance straight to Sunday's final, the others going into a repêchage in the evening.
Lightweight singles sculler Sinead Jennings has withdrawn because of illness and exams.
"I was sick for quite a while after the Eton World Cup," she said yesterday.
This means Ireland will have only Olympic-class crews at Munich. The men's four that finished sixth at Eton have a stern challenge today. Ireland A coach Debbie Fox says they are improving, however.
"They are getting better, but it is going to be a good year of a project. I was watching them paddling this evening and they have got speed in the boat," she said.
The four compete at 11.06am Irish time against France, Poland and Italy 2.
The men's pair of John Forde and Marc Stephens are not expected to be major contenders. Their heat (11am) features Slovenia, Poland 1, Poland 2, New Zealand and France.
The big disappointment of Eton for Ireland was the lightweight women's double scull of Heather Boyle and Niamh Ní Chéilleachair, who would hope to improve.
"Anything has got to be better than last time," said Fox. "They are looking much more like a crew now than in Eton, a tighter unit. I feel we're on the right track."
It's a busy weekend at home and abroad with women's Henley running from today until Sunday, Galway Regatta on Sunday, and the biggest Athlone regatta tomorrow at Coosan Point.
Athlone has a record entry of 330 crews from 42 clubs. If ever the cliché of an ill wind blowing somebody good was apt, it is here. Athlone's course may have only five lanes and be a non-standard length, but in a season all but destroyed by weather this regatta gives clubs one last chance of top-class competition before the National Championships - if the weather holds.
The men's senior eight features four of the five crews from the Metropolitan Regatta two weeks ago. St Michael's take the place of Queen's University, joining NUIG, Lady Elizabeth, Garda and Neptune.
NUIG answered the questions asked at Metro and should do so again.
The regatta is further enhanced by the addition of junior trials for the Home Internationals. Twenty-five junior single scullers and 15 junior pairs will chase two places in each category. There are 10 entries in the women's junior singles, where three crews may join the Home squad.
Women's Henley features a strong Irish challenge. In the lightweight women's singles sculls, Siobhán Jacob, Orla Duddy and Nicola Fitzsimons take part today. Caroline Ryan is due to compete tomorrow in the elite single.
There will be a strong focus on UCD in the women's senior eight, especially since Neptune and Trinity are also entered.
