Ger Doyle, the national swimming coach, based in New Ross, Co Wexford, has urged the relevant IASA clubs to begin raising funds to guarantee involvement for their Team 2000 competitors at the European short-course championships in Sheffield on December 11th-13th.

Doyle is concerned with the possibility of funding not being restored in time for competitors to be fully focused on the tests which he says are an integral part of preparations for Sydney 2000.

"It's useless crying on other people's shoulders. We must act promptly in this regard and I recommend to the clubs concerned to make sure that the money is available to allow their swimmers to compete in Sheffield."

Doyle reckons that seven to eight competitors will attain the required times to qualify for an event that will graced by the top swimmers in Europe.

Doyle remains hopeful that funding will still be forthcoming for Sheffield through either the OCI or the National Sports Council. For obvious reasons, Irish swimmers perform well in short course championships.

Meanwhile, a King's Hospital swimmer, Phelim O'Maoilean, is the latest Irishman to join the select group of Irish swimmers to have swum the English Channel.

One morning last month O'Maoilean entered the water near Dover at 10 o'clock and came ashore at Calais 21 hours and 35 minutes later.

A few years ago O'Maoilean was part of a relay team that swam from Holyhead to Dalkey.