Rowing: Irish crews had little luck at Henley Royal Regatta yesterday, and all three remaining clubs made their exit.

NUIG's four in the Visitors' Cup at least had the advantage of the Berkshire station, and led for much of their race against Oxford University.

The Irish crew found the wind a wrecker, however, and Oxford took over and won by three and a half lengths.

Trinity also came a cropper in the Thames Cup for student eights. Rowing on the less-favoured Buckinghamshire station, the Dublin crew lost out to American unit, Colgate University.

Trinity coach Mark Pattison said he felt his charges were probably beaten by a better crew, but having trailed early on into the powerful flow they managed to take a slight lead only to have to again battle the flow, vainly, in the finishing stretch.

Carlow's young Fawley Cup quadruple also drew the Buckinghamshire station and were beaten by one of the seeded crews, Windsor Boys.

"We went well enough," said Carlow's coach Tony Dooley. "I wouldn't be surprised to see them go on to the final."

There is still Irish interest in the regatta through the presence of Irish athletes in British-based crews: Galway's John Forde, who is rowing for Leander in the Ladies Plate; Ciarán Hayes (London Rowing Club in the Visitors' Cup) and Dave Heffernan for York City in the Britannia Cup for coxed fours.

Ireland host the Home Internationals in Cork later this month and have announced a sizeable team. Frank Durkin, the president of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union, is unapologetic about the big levies facing the athletes who will represent their country in this event (€350) and in the junior team in the Coupe de la Jeunesse (€400) in Italy a week later. He says the union always takes a hit on the teams for these events, and will simply take a smaller one on the Homes this year because they are at home.

Meanwhile, in more pleasant climes, Ireland will be represented by St Patrick's Rowing Club in the European Cup for fixed-seat craft in Bogliasco in Italy tonight. The event is run under floodlights.

HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA- Day Three (Irish interest): Ladies Plate (Eights, Intermediate): Leander and Henley bt Oxford Brookes and Isis BC 1ft, 7:14; Harvard University bt London RC and Melbourne University 2¾ l, 7:10. Temple Cup (Eights, Student): Colgate University (US) bt Trinity 1¼ l, 7:22. Visitors' Cup (Four, coxless, Intermediate): Oxford University bt NUIG 3½ l, 8:06. Britannia Cup (Four, coxed, Club): York City bt Cantabrigian 2¾ l, 8:29. Fawley Cup (Quadruple Scull, Junior): The Windsor Boys' School A bt Carlow 1½ l, 7:56. Diamond Sculls (Single Scull, Open): A Campbell bt P Hardcastle 2l, 9:11.