ROWING: TODAY MARKS the start of one of the most promising National Championships in years – and perhaps the end of the format which sees these events all bunched together at this time of year.

There will be huge interest across the range of championships – now sponsored by Hudson Boat Works — over the next three days at the National Rowing Centre at Farran Wood in Cork, but also in the formal and informal discussions on the new plan to revamp the season.

Sadly, the weekend will be overshadowed by the passing of Jimmy O’Toole, one of the gentlemen of Irish rowing. He will be known as a stalwart at Commercial rowing club and the father and grandfather of outstanding rowers – including former world champion Niall. But, as this reporter found at Athens in 2004, he was also a kind and generous man. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

The new generation of rowers in the family includes Ben and Kevin Clarke, whose involvement at the Championships may be in doubt. Jimmy O’Toole’s funeral will not be held until Monday, which should facilitate their participation.

The big event of the weekend is the men’s senior eight. NUIG are strong favourites here, given results at Henley Royal Regatta. The club’s four competed in the semi-final of the Visitors’, and NUIG should also be able to call upon the men from the Britannia crew, which reached the same stage, and on Dave Mannion, who won a round of the Diamond Sculls.

UCD’s bid to win the Big Pot suffered a double blow at Henley. First Seán O’Neill injured himself in a cycling accident, and then Con Collis pulled out with a back problem. As of yesterday, Collis was still a possible competitor this weekend. Darragh O’Reilly will replace O’Neill. UCD’s intermediate eight will not now compete in the senior grade, leaving just seven entries – one other withdrawal would lead to a straight final.

The senior and intermediate grades are closely linked, with Queen’s, Commercial, Galway and Trinity all balancing chances in both.

Queen’s coach Mark Fangen-Hall has said all season that the focus for his charges was the National Championships. They are favourites in the intermediate eight. However, their Henley form – beaten narrowly in the Temple Cup by competitive finalists Brown University – suggests that a full-blooded challenge at senior level could yield dividends.

Commercial, who finished ahead of Queen’s at their regatta and had a good Henley, are certainly contenders if they can call on a full-strength crew. Galway, Neptune and Trinity are outsiders, but not makeweights.

The injury to Con Collis has resulted in UCD pulling out of the double scull, but leaves Seán Jacob with just three events: the senior eight, quadruple scull and senior single. He may carry off the final two, with his main challengers in the senior single likely to be Richard Coakley and Mannion.

NUIG’s claims in the senior four look formidable, and the senior pair could also go their way.

The women’s senior eight should go to the Muckross/Carlow crew.