ROWING:Ireland coach Harald Jahrling saw his second national time trial of the season at Inniscarra cut short because of the elements yesterday, losing another vital chance to try out combinations in big boats.
"We're getting to the point of desperation. We need to see something - I mean we can't pull a rabbit out of a hat. We need to look at what people can do in proper competition," he said.
The shortened session gives all the more weight to the training camp in St Cassien in France over the next three weeks. Lightweight oarsman Danny O'Dowd and heavyweight Rory O'Connor booked their place at the camp in Saturday's session.
Sam Lynch did not compete on medical grounds but is one of the eight lightweights travelling to St Cassien today.
Meanwhile, Trinity's senior eight continued on their winning ways at the Erne Head of the River on Saturday.
It was the 50th anniversary of the first head, and three of the competitors from the first running - David Porteous, Dusty Anderson and Ivan Henderson - rowed again.
Women first competed at the event in 1974. Mary Wells and Lynda Brown, who rowed in that race for Queen's Ladies Boat Club, competed again on Saturday for Belfast Rowing Club - and won the senior eights.
At the Cork Head of the River yesterday, University College Cork (UCC) retained their senior eight title.
They also took the intermediate and novice eight titles.
IRELAND SQUAD (for training camp at St Cassien, France): Men - Heavyweight: S Jacob, C Collis, S Casey, A Martin, C Folan, S O'Neill, P Murray, J Wall, P O'Brien, R O'Connor. Lightweight: P Griffin, E Coakley, R Archibald, R Coakley, S Lynch, G Ward, C Moynihan, D O'Dowd. Women - Heavyweight: C Ryan. Lightweight: S Jennings, N Ni Cheilleachair.
