O’Donovan brothers team up at Neptune Head

The low water levels at Blessington Lakes have been a worry in recent months, but the wet weather has helped and racing distance for the Neptune Head of the River tomorrow should be good, according to organisers.

A total of 221 crews are entered for the two heads (time trials), which are set to be held at 11 o'clock and 2 o'clock. The quality of the entry is impressive: in the men's senior single sculls, internationals Paul O'Donovan and John Keohane are the standout names.

O'Donovan teams up with his elder brother, Gary, in a UCD/Skibbereen double scull which could represent Ireland as a lightweight double in the coming season.

There are three senior eights entered: UCD, Neptune and a composite of Carlow and Three Castles. Entries from NUIG and Gráinne Mhaol and from Portora in Enniskillen give the draw a good geographical spread.

Off the water, the postponed egm of Rowing Ireland has been rescheduled for December 14th at the Red Cow Hotel in Dublin. Elsewhere Peter Shakespear, a world expert on talent identification, will be in UCD next Wednesday, Queen's University (Thursday), NUIG (Friday) and UL on Sunday. Ireland lead coach Don McLachlan will also speak on rowing technique.

The Ulster and Connacht seminars will be followed by coaches' meetings, part of the sequence of meetings set up by Morten Espersen, the Ireland high performance director.

Rowing Ireland, which will have its end of year review with the Irish Sports Council in the coming weeks, has submitted its funding request for next year. Chief executive Hamish Adams says they are "waiting anxiously" for news.