Busy schedule for Puspure begins with World Cup date

ROWINGIRELAND'S ROWING teams compete in the World Cup regatta in Munich and regattas at the Olympic course at Dorney Lake and at Henley this weekend.

The World Cup gives single sculler Sanita Puspure her first competitive test since she qualified for the Olympics. A big entry is headed by former Olympic and World Champion Ekaterina Karsten.

Puspure will go on to head up what is a very slim Irish entry for Henley Royal Regatta, which starts on Wednesday week. While UCD’s women’s eight compete in the Remenham Cup, there is no entry from either UCD’s men’s club or from NUIG/Grainne Mhaol.

Puspure, however, looks to have a good chance in the Princess Royal for single sculls, her last event before London 2012.

Ireland’s Olympians in canoe slalom are also in action in the coming days; Eoin Rheinisch and Hannah Craig compete at the second canoe slalom World Cup in Pau in France, which begins today.

The Ireland rowing team in Munich also includes the Adaptive mixed four, who have qualified for the Paralympic Games, and lightweight sculler Claire Lambe, whose main goal for the season is the World Under-23 Championships in four weeks’ time.

The shape of the Ireland team at that prestigious event, and the prospects of success, should become clearer after competition this weekend at Marlow Regatta at Dorney Lake and at Women’s Henley.

The Rowing Ireland elite four features Tom Lynam in the stroke seat. The 6ft5in Yale oarsman from Virginia in the USA has an Ireland passport and teams up with Finbarr Manning, Eddie Mullarkey and Seán O’Connor. Rowing Ireland have also entered Justin Ryan in the elite single sculls, and he has Colin Williamson of Queen’s University and John Keohane of Lee Valley in his heat – both of whom are entered in the Diamond Sculls at Henley.

A Rowing Ireland elite quadruple is also entered at Marlow, but it will include a substitute.

Under-23 athletes Holly Nixon and Laura D’Urso form a potent double at Women’s Henley and Lisa Dilleen and 17-year-old Bridget Jacques also competes in the single sculls.

Athlone Regatta tomorrow s is subject to a weather and water level call today. Sunday’s Galway Regatta also has a big entry.

Entries for Henley Royal Regatta(Irish interest) Temple: Trinity Remenham: UCD Visitors': Queen's Wyfold: Cork BC Queen Mother: UCC/London RC Prince Albert: Queen's Diamond Sculls: J Keohane (Lee Valley); C Williamson (Queen's) Princess Royal: S Puspure (Old Collegians)