ROWING:ONLY TWO weeks after Neptune enjoyed still conditions for their huge head of the river, Muckross will hope for similar weather for their head at the National Rowing Centre tomorrow.  

There is a big representation from Munster and Connacht in the large entry. While the big boats are still, for the most part, being formed, the entry in the single sculls events is impressive. The heads at this time of the year are standing in for the regional trials which were in place under former coach Harald Jahrling.

Although it is too early to be certain, the prospect of Ireland having a crew or crews at the World Junior Championships was given a shot in the arm by the stand-out performance of Lisa Dilleen at the Indoor Rowing Championships at the weekend. At 17, the Galway native has become the fastest Irish woman at this event.

Earlier this year, the rowing boat La Mondiale became the fastest to cross the Atlantic, in 33 days, seven hours and 30 minutes. Three Irishmen - Peter Donaldson, Ray Carroll and Reinhardt von Hof - were part of the 14-man crew.

Next month the boat will attempt to lower this mark. Again, there is a strong Irish involvement, with Corkmen Breffny Morgan and Peter Williams - who is doing the row for Cancer Care West - being joined by Robert Byrne and Ryan Corcoran from Bray Rowing Club and Ian McKeever, famous for becoming the fastest man to climb the world's seven summits.