Anyone who doubts the quality or dedication of rowers in Ireland would be given something to think about by studying the recent schedule of Gearoid Towey.

Last Sunday in Queensland Towey carried off his third title at the Australian Rowing Championships, adding the lightweight double, where he teamed up with Rob Mitchell, to his quadruple and lightweight single sculls crowns won on Saturday. At 1 p.m. on Tuesday local time he boarded a flight to London, and settled in for the 21-hours flying time. Yesterday he was in the NCTC Limerick for a national testing session with the elite of lightweight oarsmen.

Fermoy man Towey was just one of 18 taking part in the testing, which continues today: Neville Maxwell, Niall O'Toole and Owen Byrne had valid reasons for their absence.

The plan, according to the head of the international rowing committee of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union, Mick O'Callaghan, is to devise a strategy for the upcoming World Cup and World Championship regattas, the world under-23 championships and, longer term, towards 2003 and qualification for the Olympics.

According to O'Callaghan there is no policy of allowing non-Olympic boats to be given priority this year, although Sam Lynch, silver medallist at the World Championships last year, intends to compete again as a lightweight single sculler this year, with the aim of going one better and winning gold.

O'Callaghan and men's convenor Sebastiaan Peeters have given their blessing to this aim, although in the light of Towey's win as a single sculler in Queensland, it is interesting that O'Callaghan says Lynch "or anybody who can beat him" will be given the task.

In the continuing absence of an appointed coach for the international athletes - the latest news is it will be later in the year before grant aid is received and the appointment made - O'Callaghan says the management team is "getting on with it": the elite will be brought together regularly and a plan devised for the coming four years.