ROWING: Sean Drea, Ireland's most successful rower at Henley Royal Regatta, believes one of Ireland's big hopes this year, the Neptune eight in the Thames Cup, have a good chance of doing the country proud. Many of the Irish crews are in action today, the opening day of this year's regatta.

Drea, who won the prestigious Diamond Sculls title at Henley three times from 1973 to 1975, has watched the Neptune eight in training: "They're a young crew with lots of talent," he says, and adds that Neville Maxwell is an "excellent coach".

But Drea stresses that racing at Henley is "extremely tough"; the one-against-one format and the longer-than-standard distance does not suit every crew. Even the most talented may find it difficult to deal with losing the lead, regaining it and maybe losing it again, he says.

Drea, settled back in Ireland after almost 30 years in Philadelphia, hopes to get back into coaching, although as a farmer he has other stresses at the moment. The weather hasn't helped preparations for Henley either, but the headwind and rain there yesterday might be no hindrance if they continue today.

Trinity will be the first out, in the Temple Cup eights for college crews, where UCD and Queen's also have hopes of progressing.

Garda's hopes in the Britannia for coxed fours were severely dented when they drew Cambridge University, but they have the better station as they will not have to fight the flow. Drea's point about a fighting spirit being a key part of the mix might be valid here; Garda will either have exited or become one of the giantkillers of the regatta by about 4 p.m. this evening.

Neptune, who are a seeded crew - "selected" in Henley terminology - take on Agecroft in the Thames at 5.30 p.m., with definite hopes of progressing, while Commercial have a huge task in facing Germany's Hamberger Ruderklub a half-hour later in the same event.

The regatta finishes with the finals on Sunday.