Hamburg-based Irish champion sprinter Nick O'Hare returned from an international meet in Charleroi in Belgium yesterday content at having swum his best 100 metres in two years and with the bonus of an early Olympic B qualifying time under his belt, but he was still worried about his technique.

The perfection of technique in swimming doesn't come easily especially for someone who hadn't begun to swim until his mid-teens. "It doesn't come as natural," said O'Hare. "I had shaved for the event and to be honest I thought I was going to do better."

The Olympic Council of Ireland paid for O'Hare's flights and everything seemed right for a better time. He managed 23.9 seconds in the 50 metres to finish third, but was later disqualified for "twitching" on the blocks before the off.

"My technique is not what it should be. My coach here in Hamburg doesn't really concern himself much with such matters. He puts emphasis on power, stamina and speed. He will be away at the German Open this week and I will have to address the problem on my own with the aid of a camcorder."

O'Hare is used to training alone. He has done so since splitting with his Dublin coach in 1997.

With the closing date for entries for the European Championships in Istanbul in July set for May 30th and with no other competition open to him between now and the Grand Prix finals in Sheffield on May 28th, 29th and 30th, it is imperative that the big Dubliner has his technical problems sorted out within the next few days.

Meanwhile, the selectors will be naming the Irish squad for the Junior European Championships in Budapest from August 5th to 8th within the next couple of weeks.