Ireland's single sculler Sanita Puspure faces a

tough challenge in the next few days. On the hallowed water of Lucerne from Sunday to Tuesday, she has to produce her best performances if she is to secure a place at the Olympic Games.

There are just three places available at the Olympic qualifier, and Emma Twigg of New Zealand, the world champion from 2014, is everybody's favourite. Twigg is just one of three who will line up on Sunday who featured in the final in London 2012. Fie Udby Erichsen took Olympic silver, Twigg finished fourth and Ekaterina Karsten, twice an Olympic champion, was fifth. Elza Gulbe, the silver medallist at the European Championships, will also compete at Lucerne, and scullers from the big powers of Germany, Italy, Russia and Britain are hoping to make it through this last-chance saloon.

Puspure is in “fantastic form” according to coach Don McLachlan and comes into the event with medals from her two events this season: the first World Cup and the European Championships.

The Castleconnell Sprint Regatta tomorrow, a 500m event featuring Waterways League events for younger rowers, has drawn a big entry.

The cancellation of Dublin Metropolitan Regatta, set for May 28th, is a blow to the domestic season.

A big team of volunteers tried to lay the course, but even a 1,700m stretch was unviable as water levels have been worryingly low.