NUIG's grip on Wylie Cup will be tested in Down

ROWING:THE WIND may have switched to the east, but the top crews have been heading north. Castlewellan, in Co Down, plays host today to the University Championships and tomorrow's Queen's University Regatta - and both will have a keen edge of competition.

NUIG have all but owned the Wylie Cup for men this century. The cup goes to the top university, based on the eights' wins at novice, intermediate and senior. The winners of the senior eight carry the day if the three grades are won by separate colleges, and their outstanding senior eight has been NUIG's ace card.

But their hold on the trophy will be tested to the full today.

Trinity and UCD have been pushing each other to new heights. Trinity's Mark Pattison, who speaks softly but coaches a big crew, is intent on bringing the Wylie home, and may have the senior eight to clinch the deal.

Recently-retired international Tim Harnedy will row for the college today in the senior pair with Joe Calnan, but he will not be in the eight. Harnedy has been troubled by a neck injury, but Pattison makes it clear that he would be no shoo-in for the eight in any case. "He'll have to fight his way into it," he said yesterday.

UCD have one of the finds of recent seasons in 20-year-old stroke man Anthony English, and they will hope to reprise their win over Trinity in the Gannon Cup.

But NUIG will not want to give way easily. Their crew, stroked by Niall Kenny, have experienced men in Evin Donnelly, Mattie Carroll and Liam Molloy.

The way in which the Wylie is won will also be a topic for formal debate. A proposal to change the way the points are awarded will be discussed at a meeting after the rowing. There are suggestions the cup winner should be determined by the strengths across a number of disciplines, with the senior eight not carrying so much weight.

The Bank of Ireland Cup for senior women is awarded on the same basis as the Wylie, but for fours. This too is up for review.

UCD have been the dominant force here, but Trinity have given notice that they too are contenders for the top awards. They beat UCD in the eights' final at Commercial regatta on Sunday.

The University Championships, which are run in conjunction with the Irish Schools' Championships, have a reach beyond the major powers: Garda Síochána College Boat Club, which is based in Tullamore but rows out of Islandbridge, field a novice women's eight, who received their new boat in a ceremony on Wednesday.

NUIG will be notable absentees from Queen's regatta tomorrow, but it too has a big entry. In the men's senior eight, Belfast Rowing Club, Carlow and Commercial join UCD and Trinity in the draw.

The entry for the women's senior eight at Queen's features UCD and Trinity, and they will be joined by Belfast Rowing Club and Queen's University.

The Ireland lightweight squad return from Italy on Sunday, and will be based at the National Rowing Centre in Cork.

Heavyweights Sinead Jennings and Caroline Ryan, who competed as single scullers in Piediluco, have been teaming up as a double scull in training.