Rowing Column:Two boats racing side by side in fine conditions can mean an elemental contest. Cambridge's win in last weekend's excellent Boat Race proved this, and Neptune's regatta tomorrow at Islandbridge, and Commercial's on Sunday, will hope to provide plenty of the same fare.
There will be no shortage of action tomorrow. The first of the 167 races will begin at 8.30am; the final race is at 6.50pm. Commercial have 147 races on Sunday.
The events will, however, lack the sprinkle of stardust that would be conferred by the presence of a big complement of international stars, and it galls the Neptune organisers that on the very day they have their biggest event and largest fundraiser the international athletes will be doing ergometer tests in Garda Rowing Club. The club-versus-country syndrome is not limited to rugby.
Alan Ludlow, the Neptune captain, is critical of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union and feels they should be supporting clubs in what he sees as "the gulf between the promotion of club rowing and the tunnel-vision of the international scene".
Gerry Cantan, the president of Commercial, is also critical of this weekend's clash: "I think it is unnecessarily disruptive."
The shared date arises from the fact Neptune and Commercial were originally slotted into the IARU calendar for the Easter weekend, but that slot would have meant small numbers.
The club-country clash becomes even more marked in two weeks' time, when the second and final selection regatta, in Cork, is scheduled directly opposite Trinity Regatta, in Dublin.
Ireland coach Harald Jahrling is characteristically blunt on these issues. He points out his programme is built around the international season and was laid down last year. If domestic clubs want to schedule events at the same time it is their choice.
He also contends many of those doing ergometer tests tomorrow would not compete this weekend anyway, and the timing of the tests means those who want to do both can. He also says he rescheduled the junior ergometer tests away from this weekend, so many at this level who wish to compete can.
Some critics say Jahrling keeps too many under-23 athletes in his system, thus ruling them out of club action, though they may not eventually succeed in the rarefied air at the very top level.
"There are eight under-23 lightweight boats coming to the next (selection) regatta," he responds. "It is not a lot, you know. I really hope there are more rowers in the country than eight under-23 boats."
At last weekend's camp in Cork, Jahrling chose two further teams to represent Ireland this year: the senior men's quadruple of James Wall, Paul Murray, Con Collis and Paul O'Brien will go to the first two World Cups, in Austria and Amsterdam, and may go to the final World Cup in Lucerne and the World Championships in Munich. Rory O'Connor has been chosen for the Under-23 World Championships and will compete in Amsterdam. He will be reserve for the senior men's group for the World Championships.
