World champions heading for the Leisureland complex in Salthill this week for the eighth annual international meet face a disappointingly depleted Irish challenge.
Top Irish competitors will be conspicuous by their absence. "They are away and we can't expect them to come home" was the way one Irish official put it yesterday.
Hugh O'Connor, the Irish backstroke champion lives in Wexford but has opted out due to work commitments. His clash with Neil Willey ranked 14th in the world and included in a strong British contingent has now gone by the board. Olympians Chantal Gibney and Andrew Bree both based in the US, along with Sydney team mates Emma Robinson and Colin Lowth are also not available due to exams and studies.
Their absence will be a huge disappointment in terms of providing local interest to the three-day event starting on Friday. Germany's Sandra Volker, the world's number one backstroker is also out but a late entry is April Martin, of the US.
The star attractions will of course be Mark Foster (world record holder at 50 metres freestyle), Atlanta gold medallist Jon Olsen, world number one butterfly record holder, Lars Frolander and his world number one Swedish compatriot Therese Alshammer (50 and 100 metres freestyle).
Swimming gets under way on Friday 10 a.m. with finals starting at 5.00 on Friday and Saturday and 2.30 on Sunday.
