Gary Mawer, an Irish canoeist with a fine record in the event, has high hopes of gaining a strong placing in the World Marathon Racing Championships in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia early next month.

Mawer, who has finished second, fourth and fifth in the event - he was less than half a second away from winning in Sweden in 1996 - headed out to Canada last weekend to prepare for the championships, which run from the September 1st to 3rd. The Irishman had an operation earlier this year to improve the blood-flow to his arms and is reportedly going very well in training.

Two of Mawer's main rivals in the K1 class may be Irishman Conor Holmes, who now competes for Britain, and defending champion Ivan Lawler, also competing for Britain.

Along with Mawer, the Irish team consists of Graham O'Regan (also K1) and brothers Peter and Andrew Maycock (K2) and juniors Neil Fleming (K1) and Philip Jones and Mark Geraghty (K2). Fleming, although only 15, was third-placed junior in the World Cup event at Stockton-on-Tees this year and so may be a real prospect.

Gary Mawer certainly has a busy few weeks ahead. He will rush back from the World Championships to take part in the Liffey Descent on Saturday, September 9th. Last year he teamed up with his brother, John, to win the Descent in a K2, and though John will not compete this year, Gary has already indicated that he will be taking part with another partner.

This year's Liffey Descent will feature around a thousand competitors with the strongest foreign contingents coming from Britain and South Africa. The South Africans will have real hopes of lifting this year's K2 title, covering the 17.6 miles from Straffan to Islandbridge in the fastest time.