THE Garda Siochana meet the Defence Forces in their fourth annual boat race today having produced a string of recent performances that might have come straight from the policing manual chapters, How to tail a boat and Following rip leads.

So far this year, the Garda's intermediate eight have finished behind the Defences Forces at every opportunity presented to them. Eighteen seconds separated the two crews over the 31/2 mile Tribesmen course in March a margin that was reduced a week later in Dublin to just a canvas.

Disqualification denied the Garda a chance to cap their improving form at last month's Neptune Regatta when a broken fin, and subsequent loose interpretation of lanes, saw Queen's into the Senior 3 final where they beat the Defences Forces by half a length.

Neither club has made any crew changes for today's race. Three of last year's national novice four champions lead the Garda boat which has changed around its seating order, butt keeps faith with novices Graham Folan and Declan Healy at four.

Garda Boat Club captain Michael Kearney, was never the less coy in his predictions. "It's 50-50 on the day, I'd be happier if we had had more time to train though."

The Defence Forces notched ups its first boat race win last year and according to their coach Martin Breen the current line up, with Brian Phelan at stroke, has been performing well in training this week.

The main race starts at Islandbridge at 4.0 p.m