Big test for Ireland

Rowing ColumnThe biggest World Rowing Championships, with 64 nations competing, is little over a week away.

Ireland's team of six crews may be the strongest ever fielded, but when they compete at Eton on Sunday and Monday they will get nothing easy. "Everybody's there," says Ireland team manager Mick O'Callaghan of the entry of over 1,000 athletes.

In the lightweight double scull Ireland's Richard Coakley and Tim Harnedy will take on 29 other crews; Seán Jacob is one of 25 entries in the single scull; Caroline Ryan is one of 22 in the women's equivalent; Ireland's heavyweight four will face 16 other crews. There are 17 entries in the men's lightweight four, but Ireland's outstanding crew come fresh from a victory at the World Cup in Lucerne and are the form unit - the world champions in France will be out to retain their title.

Niamh Ní Cheilleachair and Sinéad Jennings in the lightweight women's double are our other best medal hope, but their challenge seems much more daunting, with 22 entries and a spread of talent across the field.

Reigning champions Germany have Daniela Reimer and Marie-Louise Draeger back together for Eton, and the US (silver medallists last year) and Finland (bronze) are also present and correct. The depth of talent is such that none of these are the favourites: China's Dongxiang Xu and Shimin Yan shattered the world best time at the World Cup regatta in Poznan and then stayed away from the final World Cup at Lucerne, where Canada's Mara Jones and Tracy Cameron won gold.

The under-23 men's four has a more immediate challenge. James Wall, Dan Barry, Paul O'Brien and Paul Murray take part in the World University Championships in Trakai in Lithuania this weekend. Rory O'Connor, in the single scull, and Eoghan Garvey and Danny O'Dowd (lightweight double scull) also compete.

The Northern Ireland team made the short trip back from the Commonwealth Regatta in Strathclyde in Scotland with a gold, four silvers and a bronze medals. The gold came in the women's lightweight pair, through Karen Rentoul and Heather Armstrong.

Neptune's senior eight capped off a season with promise but little glory with a win at the Carrick-on-Shannon sprints, while Trinity won the women's eight.