Neptune, who lost their senior eight title to Garda last year, look set to strike back in a big way at the National Championships which take place today and tomorrow at Inniscarra in Cork.

Their eight is simply formidable: recent World Cup gold medallists Gear≤id Towey and Tony O'Connor are complemented by Darren Barber, a gold medallist in the Canada eight at the Barcelona Olympics, Atlanta Olympian Derek Holland and double Olympian Neville Maxwell, the holder of more national titles than any other Irishman.

The Dublin club's main rivals for the senior eights title look set to be NUIG, who have a fine record at Irish regattas this year and made some progress in the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley. But the challenge facing them is reflected in the fact that the Neptune eight which reached the semi-final of the Thames at Henley - Ireland's best result - are now, for the most part, competing in these championships at intermediate level.

Towey and O'Connor get their chance to add to their recent gold as a lightweight pair at the Munich World Cup regatta in today's first final, the men's senior pair, scheduled for 11.40. Their main rivals would seem to be Richard Archibald and John Armstrong in the Queen's/LVBC composite.

Another title should follow soon afterwards for Neptune when their senior quadruple scull of Ciarβn Lewis, Seβn Jacob, Albert Maher and Derek Holland take to the water.

Queen's University's women's eight will hope to land the title. The absence of SinΘad Jennings, like Sam Lynch concentrating on the World Championships, does take a little zest from the women's events.

Ireland team for Nations Cup (World Under-23 Regatta) in Ottensheim, Austria, July 27th-29th: Lightweight Men coxless four: Eugene Coakley, Timmy Harnedy, Paul Griff, Neil Casey. Heavyweight Men double scull: John Wholley, Paul O'Sullivan. Heavyweight Men Single scull: Padraic Hussey. Lightweight Women single scull: Fiola Foley.