Sport

Voyage of discovery for UCD's senior eight

ACCORDING to one apprehensive college oarsman, the London Head of the River will be more of a voyage of discovery than a trial…

By ANDY BOWMAN
Sat Mar 22 1997 - 00:00

ACCORDING to one apprehensive college oarsman, the London Head of the River will be more of a voyage of discovery than a trial of speed.

The UCD senior eight, which until now has been cosseted from serious competition at home, tests the waters of the Tideway today against a 420 strong field that includes the Irish and British national champions.

The UCD crew have been studiously avoiding races in the run up to their season opener next month's Heineken Gannon boat, race against Trinity. The decision to row in London is still being explained, with a hint of anxiety, in terms of a run of the mill training exercise.

With the lumpy waters and strong current between Mortlake and Putney a searching ordeal for inexperienced crews, coach Jim Heaney confided that he was approaching the race with "a certain amount of trepidation".

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UCD are rowing with length and connecting well, but Heaney was cautious about their chances with, only two of the eight - last year's intermediates John Maguire and James Walshe - having rowed the course before.

Fielding two changes from their winning senior eight last weekend, Neptune's coach Peter Buckley hopes to improve on their current ninth seeding. With the Tideay course in mind, Albert Maher comes in for Frank Sheridan and "Colm O'Rourke resumes his normal role in the stroke seat.

There will be a strong British squad presence to be countered today, including Stephen Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent, split among Leander, University of London, Moseley and Notts County.

Illness has forced almost daily changes on the Defence Forces line up in recent weeks, and the addition of Damian Leehy's name on the sick list with a case of tonsilitis has meant further reshuffling by coach Mark Pattison.

The eight is said to be rowing at double last year's, efficiency and St Michael's Johnnie Hayes steps in for the second time in a week.

Hayes may yet be rowing in DFRA/St Michael's composite of the championships, with the Limerick club still searching for its strongest combination. London offers another bite at the cherry with Ger Fahy's crew starting directly behind Neptune B.