Dublin Head of River takes centre stage as National Trials in Cork are postponed

The National Trials set for this weekend in Cork have been postponed because of the disruptive weather, but only two weeks after big crowds watched the Colours Races, spectators in Dublin have another chance to look down from the Liffey walls on dedicated athletes mastering the elements with grace and craft.

UCD’s senior eight heads up an entry of 34 crews at the Dublin Head of the River, which will run from the Ha’penny Bridge to Islandbridge on a time-trial basis. The crews traditionally muster east of O’Connell Bridge, but because of work on the new bridge they will line up at the other side. The start is set for 1.30pm.

Irish rowers are used to hard weather, but the organisers have urged crews to wear extra layers tomorrow and they can fill black plastic sacks with extra clothing before the race starts. These will be collected by a launch.

The domestic rowing calendar is busy in the next month, and the national trials have been refixed for the first weekend of May.

One of the big events of the intervening period will be the Rowing Ireland agm, which is set to take place in three weeks’ time. The posts of president and treasurer should both turn over, as Anthony Dooley and Gerry Farrell are stepping down.

The stark facts of the international side of the sport here are that the provision from the Irish Sports Council has fallen from €490,000 last year to €380,000 this year – over 22 per cent. The fact the World Championships are in Korea this year makes the books that bit harder to balance.

Armchair rowers – or critics – do not have to brave the cold to see rowing this weekend. The Boat Race, heavily promoted by the BBC, is at 4.30pm on Sunday.