ROWING: It never rains but it pours - even in the south of Spain. Bad weather hampered training yesterday evening for the three Ireland crews which go into action this morning in repechages in Seville, hoping to secure places in A and B semi-finals.

In addition, the women's lightweight double has to contend with an extra problem, as Sinead Jennings is struggling with a knee injury as well as the neck condition which has badly affected her season.

Jennings and Heather Boyle must finish in the first three crews in their race, scheduled for 9.30.

Canada, who finished fourth in the world last year, should cruise through, and Zimbabwe may be the weakest of the five crews, leaving Ireland to push out either the United States or Romania to stay on course for a chance to eventually make the A or B final.

The men's lightweight double of Neal Byrne and Eugene Coakley will also have to put two crews behind them in their four-boat repechage (9.58), which also includes Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The lightweight men's four of Paul Griffin, Richard Archibald, Neil Casey and Derek Holland have the easiest task.

In their repechage (10.19), two boats from three will reach the target, so Ireland must put either Britain or Portugal behind them.

Meanwhile, Britain's Frances Houghton and Debbie Flood confirmed their status as one of the best medal prospects when they won their repechage in the double sculls.

And Commonwealth champion Kirsten McClelland-Brooks of Scotland qualified for the semi-finals of the lightweight sculls by finishing second behind Lisa Schlenker of the US in yesterday's repechage.