Maher aiming for top rung

Rowing/Dublin Sculling Ladder: It is an event that has been won by some of the best Irish oarsmen, from Seán Drea to Niall O'Toole, and tomorrow's Dublin Sculling Ladder time trial at Islandbridge will again draw out rowers just as the days shorten.

Commercial oarsman Albert Maher looks a good bet to top the ladder tomorrow evening. His rivalry with clubmate Seán Jacob must wait for another day to be played out as Jacob's plans this weekend include Paris and a different sporting occasion.

After positions are established tomorrow, rowers can challenge those on the ladder through the winter in a bid to displace them.

Fran O'Toole, elder brother of Niall, holds the amazing record of having been in the top 10 of the event 20 times since the ladder was inaugurated in 1966, and the veteran is set to compete again tomorrow.

Niall O'Toole is ruled out by family commitments, but hopes to compete in the Head of the Charles River in Boston in two weeks' time.

Seán Casey of Muckross, who finished fourth last year, has been given the honour of going off first in the Championship Singles in Boston - two places ahead of Olympic silver medallist Jueri Jaanson of Estonia.

Niall O'Toole, who describes returning to ordinary life after the intensity of Olympic preparation and competition as "like falling off a cliff", said yesterday he hoped to compete at the top level for at least another year.

His interest in coaching - "long term I would hope to coach at a high level" - may thus be put on hold. However, he is surprised the Irish Amateur Rowing Union has not asked an athletes' representative to join the interview board for the new head coach.

"I find that a bit frustrating," he says. "We would like a bit of input. We are at the coal face."

The closing date for applications for the job is Wednesday, October 20th. Enquiries have come from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.

"Everywhere except Ireland," quips the president of the IARU, Frank Durkin, who confirmed it is likely that a representative of the Irish Sports Council will be on the interview panel.

Durkin was visiting Northern Ireland yesterday to oversee the re-establishment of the union's Ulster Branch. The health of the sport in the province will be there for all to see tomorrow at the Portadown Marascull.