ROWING/Henley Regatta: No motivational speech works quite as well as the opposition confirming they think they will have it easy. Tara, the lightweight eight which is set to be Ireland's crew for the World Cup next week, were exemplars of this sporting truth at Henley Royal Regatta yesterday.
Facing the giants from Stanford University in the Ladies' Plate quarter-final, the Irish knew only an outstanding effort would do the job. And they found it, winning by three feet after trailing by over a length for some of the course. It was one of five wins for Irish crews on another excellent day.
Before the Ladies' Plate race the Irish lightweights got a jolt from their confident rivals. "Their cox said 'let's have some fun here'. It spurred us on," explained Tara bowman Kenny McDonald. "That might have lost them the race. They threw everything at us. I think they got to one and a quarter lengths ahead at one stage. We could hear them calling 10s and 20s (pushes of 10 and 20 strokes).
"We never panicked, kept cool heads and kept our length," said the McDonald, paying special tribute to stroke Diarmaid Mac Colgain and the rest of the crew. McDonald and Danny O'Dowd have struggled to overcome stomach ailments in recent days.
As a garda, McDonald will provide some presence for the boys in blue in today's semi-finals - his colleagues in the Garda eight in the Thames Cup exited to English crew Molesey yesterday.
It was the one loss on a day when the other Irish crews moved forward confidently.
Lady Elizabeth, Garda's neighbours at Islandbridge, get their chance against Molesey today after accounting for Kingston by two and a half lengths.
The quadruple scull drawn from Commercial and Neptune had another good day at the office, ending Tideway Scullers' campaign with a one and three-quarter length win. "They only doing the job they were supposed to do," said Commercial coach Mick Desmond of his experienced crew.
Today Commercial/Neptune meet their first seeded crew, the composite of Tideway Scullers' and Newcastle University.
NUIG's progress in the Visitors' Cup has also been on expected lines, and they too face their first real test today when they face Molesey. The college's crew in the men's student coxed four had a rest day yesterday, but will also be in action today - quite a tribute to the strength of the Galway college.
But if experience courses through these crews, spare a thought for Athlunkard, who qualified for the semi-final of the Britannia by beating Hereford yesterday. Daire Cronin, Paddy Quinn, Cathal Moynihan and Ger Sheehan, who are members of the University of Limerick open club, are enjoying a novel experience.
"It's our first time ever at Henley. It's quite an experience," said Cronin. By reaching a semi-final on their first outing they have confounded the form book. But perhaps it is wise not to underestimate the Irish.
