Rowing/Henley Regatta:Three of the six Irish crews in action on the first day of Henley Royal Regatta made it through yesterday. Belfast and Trinity demonstrated why they were seeded in the Temple and Thames Cups, for club and student eights respectively, and Queen's University progressed in the student coxed fours.

Although they were a length up at the finish, Belfast trailed London's Vesta early in their race, as they fought against the extraordinary flow - a result of the recent heavy rain. "We were way out the back," said coach Garth Young.

His crew took control, however, and then battled through the difficult conditions at the end to win. They face Marlow today.

Trinity had only half-a-length to spare against Cambridge crew Lady Margaret, but they were in control from the early stages and were not going to be beaten. Coach Mark Pattison said his crew were on top from two minutes in.

"We stuck it right down and we paddled in," he said.

Trinity will face Bournemouth University today, and Pattison is confident of another win.

Tomorrow's quarter-final opponents, if they make it through, are likely to be Colgate University from the US, who were surprise winners yesterday over Oxford Brookes University, a seeded crew.

Colgate knocked out Trinity's crew in the Prince Albert for student coxed fours, winning by half-a-length, but Queen's were well on top at the end of their clash with Reading University, and won by three-and-a-half lengths.

Belfast were well beaten in the Wyfold Cup for club coxless fours, but Young said the result was no surprise to him, as Worcester had targeted this event and had a very strong crew.

In the Princess Elizabeth for junior eights, Methodist College, Belfast, were well beaten by a seeded American school in Thomas Jefferson High School.

Two Irish crews go into action today for the first time: Mattie Carroll and Breffny Morgan of NUIG compete in the prestigious Silver Goblets for open pairs, and Carlow's junior quadruple scull go in the Fawley Cup.

There will also be Irish interest in the first round of the Ladies Plate. Jack Drea, the son of Seán Drea, is part of the Oxford Brookes and Isis crew which take on Cambridge University.

Ireland's strongest hopes of a win come Sunday, NUIG's Visitors' Cup crew, start their programme tomorrow.