A top-class representation at the international regatta at Ghent in Belgium, an entry of 245 crews for St Michael's regatta at O'Brien's Bridge near Limerick - and the Bann regatta thrown in for good measure. It's hardly surprising that with a weekend packed so full of activity some are wondering if the domestic programme could not be better distributed through the year.
"There are too many regattas in quick succession," says Victor Hamill of Bann Rowing club, and he adds that the dates could have been allocated better by the rowing union. He points out that even in Northern Ireland alone the Enniskillen regatta last weekend has been followed quickly by Bann's this weekend, and Portadown's next week.
The list of top-class athletes heading for Ghent is impressive: both Garda and Trinity are sending eights. Both have reasons to be in good form: Garda received their new Empacher-built eight during the week and Trinity rowers seem convinced that their season is finally coming together after their victory in the Gannon Cup last Saturday.
Skibbereen and Offaly, two clubs with excellent records at junior level, are sending strong teams to the Belgian venue, and other entries come from Belfast Rowing Club, Clonmel, Cork Boat Club and Lady Victoria Boat Club. Even St Michael's will be sending representatives to Ghent. In their own regatta at O'Brien's Bridge, the junior men's eight and the well-supported sculling events may be the focus of much of the attention.
St Michael's man Dermot Henihan has become team manager for the Olympic Council of Ireland in the run-up to Sydney, and Michael O'Callaghan of Shandon will step into his shoes as rowing team manager for Sydney.
The list of entries already confirmed for the first World Cup regatta in Hazewinkel contains a few interesting choices. A double scull of Niall O'Toole and Gearoid Towey has been entered in both lightweight and heavyweight categories, and the lightweight quadruple scull is also interesting: Owen Byrne, James Lyndsay-Finn (both Commercial), Armstrong and Noel Monahan of Shandon, who recently topped the Guinness Cork sculling ladder.
