ROWING:Ger Hartmann, the Limerick-based physiotherapist who has had such a remarkable influence on top athletes such as Paula Radcliffe, could be about to become an ace in the pack in Ireland's bid to qualify a lightweight boat for the Beijing Olympics.

Hartmann has begun working with Tim Harnedy (25), the talented Corkman who has been struggling with an ankle injury in recent seasons. Harnedy was part of the crew which qualified the Ireland lightweight four for the Athens Olympics in 2003, but torn ligaments in his left ankle have severely restricted him for most of the period since.

Harnedy is hugely enthusiastic about working with new Ireland lightweight coach John Holland, who has told him to do exactly what Hartmann tells him. "Hopefully he can get me back on track," said the Skibbereen man.

The aim is primarily to just return Harnedy to rowing fitness - "to come back at all would be great" - but lightweight rowing in this country is now effectively counting down to the Olympic Qualifier in Poznan in Poland in mid June and a fully-fit Harnedy would strengthen the Ireland challenge.

Hartmann's plan for Harnedy involves no rowing in the short term, so he has withdrawn from tomorrow's Neptune Head of the River at Blessington.

This time-trial event has drawn some impressive entries, including lightweight internationals Eugene Coakley and Cathal Moynihan, and heavyweight Caroline Ryan, who shone in the regional trials last weekend. Ryan will not get to renew rivalry with Helen Walshe. The UCD woman will not row due to illness. The elite heavyweight men are in St Cassien, France, at a camp, but Commercial's strength in depth will be on show in the senior men's eights category in Blessington.