ROWING: Ireland's strongest hope of a medal at the World Under-23 Championships at Hazewinkel in Belgium, the heavyweight four, had an excellent first day yesterday. The young quartet won their heat to qualify directly for Sunday's A final, saving themselves two races in the hot conditions.

Temperatures climbed through the 30s on Wednesday, and while yesterday was cooler, the programme was brought forward to the morning to avoid suffering for the athletes in the difficult weather.

But Ireland's four other crews face into repechages today, having failed to make it through their heats yesterday.

The four of James Wall, Dan Barry, Paul O'Brien and Paul Murray did the job as expected.

"They followed their race plan all the way, down to a tee," explained Ireland team manager Ciara Ní Chéilleachair. "The Belarussians beside them went off very hard and fast, and (the Irish) just stuck to their race plan and rowed through them at around 1,250 (metres). They had clear water by the end. It was a very, very solid row."

Ireland's main rivals in this class, the Czech Republic, also had an impressive win in their heat, and the two crews will have the favoured lanes in Sunday's final. The Czechs have just one change from the crew which reached the final of the World Cup in Lucerne earlier this month.

One of the men who won gold at those prestigious championships, Marcello Miani of Italy, faced Ireland in the the men's lightweight double. Miani partnered Elia Luini in Lucerne and Daniele Danesin in Hazewinkel, but the result was the same - an impressive win. Seán Walsh and James Brinn were well off the pace.

While the men's coxed four, which is a junior boat entered for experience, can be happy despite a minor placing yesterday, Orla Hayes in the lightweight single and the men's lightweight quadruple scull will not. "From watching the crews this morning we would think they will all do a better rep," said Ní Chéilleachair.