RowingPaul O'Donovan, a UCD scholarship student who is still just 18 years old, was the fastest man at the first national assessment of the new Olympiad in Newry yesterday. The Skibbereen teenager headed a group of lightweight men who were fastest over the 5,000-metre trial on Newry canal.

Sanita Puspure was by far the fastest woman, though 17-year-old Bridget Jacques confirmed her class by finishing fourth. She looks set for Princeton on scholarship and travels there next week.

Morten Espersen, who takes up the post of Ireland high performance director in January, said the level of raw talent compares well with that in Denmark where he has headed up a system which won medals in the last five Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, outgoing Rowing Ireland chief executive Frank Coghlan has withdrawn his name from the interview process for the full-time post. The Corkman wishes to continue working for rowing on a voluntary basis.