ROWING/News: The Neptune senior eight, coached by Neville Maxwell, have set themselves the task of returning the club to some of its former glory this season, with the emphasis on the Ladies Plate at Henley. The curtain-raiser to the season will be a head-to-head with Cambridge on St Patrick's Day in the run-up to the Boat Race.

Maxwell has stepped away from top-class competition as the club plan to work with two senior eights - with Albert Maher, Seán Jacob and Ciarán Lewis involved again this year, and a proven newcomer to Neptune in Gareth Corry. World Championship gold medallists Tony O'Connor and Gearóid Towey are expected to be in the mix for Henley.

On the international front, 120 athletes are expected to be involved in ergometer tests around the country this weekend. On the water, too, sculling ladders continue, with eight races in Cork alone on Sunday morning.