Rather than undergo a weeding out process, as was feared a week ago, Team 2000 will not only remain intact but is poised to be expanded following some notable performances both at home and abroad.

The news from the US about middle distance swimmer Barry Hoey is encouraging. A former Blackrock College student, and still a member of the Templeogue club although based in the US for a number of years, Hoey (21) is currently making the headlines as a star performer with the Connecticut University squads.

His progress is being duly monitored by Swim Ireland's director of swimming Dave McCullough and results attained by Hoey are of a quality that are likely to lead to his selection for the European Senior Championships in Istanbul in July.

"Barry has always been an outstanding athlete and continues to improve into his 20s," says US-based Peter Banks from Dublin who was US national coach to the Pan Pacific team in 1997.

Hoey is winning and breaking records on a regular basis over the yards distances, the recognised distances in the US for this time of year. His time for the 1,650 yards, 15:40.31, coverts into a commendable 15:38.05 for the 1,500 metres. At the recent Connecticut championships he set a new school record for the 1,000 yards (9:28.06).

Nicola Pepper of Cormorants is also poised for promotion and her team mate Graham Beegan, an established 2000 team member, will be preparing in Malta with good performances at the ASA nationals in Sheffield and a European qualifying time being his immediate objectives.

Nick O'Hare is in dire need of a confidence booster right now and this could be provided by a European qualifying time at a major meet outside Hamburg this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Leinster Open championships that had been provisionally fixed for next weekend have been refixed for April 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th at the Guinness pool. The Limerick Invitational meet is fixed for March 27th-28th.