A strong contingent from Irish rowing clubs, including a senior eight and four from Neptune, head for the Ghent regatta this weekend.

Neptune see Ghent as a good testing ground for the crews they will send to Henley. The aim is to put together a crew which can regain the Thames Cup at Henley, which Neptune won in 1996, but lost last year. The Neptune four will compete in coxless and coxed form over the two days. A Neptune senior women's eight are also travelling as is single sculler Albert Maher.

Commercial, King's Hospital, Galway and Offaly are also set to send teams to the Belgian event. Castleconnell's Ailish Houlihan is also pencilled in to compete in the single scull and to team up with Ciara Ni Ceallachair in the double, and UCG's Serryth Colbert is also due to travel.