Dublin Head starts season

ROWING:Debates about when spring begins have been settled in the sport of rowing. Spring begins tomorrow. Deprived of competitive action for months by the awful weather, some of the most talented rowers in the country have taken to the Dublin Head of River like frolicsome lambs released into a green meadow

The general public can watch for free as 30-odd crews sweep up the Liffey in a set order from the Marlborough steps to Islandbridge, with a start time set for 11.30.

Three of the four men's open eights, which go off first, are composite crews that, if they hit form, might shatter the decade-old record time for the 3.7km course of 11 minutes 43.88 seconds.

The former world champion Sam Lynch may be the stand-out name in the Lady Elizabeth combination, but he is just part of an impressive crew that features Tim Harnedy, Ciarán Lewis, Andy Coleman, Cathal Moynihan, Kevin O'Connor and John Forde. The boat will be stroked by another former and perhaps future international, Neil Casey.

The first boat off is set to be a Neptune/Imperial combination, most likely stroked by Martin Walsh, who has been based in London and will bring some Imperial members with him to augment the crew.

Trinity will be the one of the open eights with a single-club crew.

UCD look set to put up a strong performance in the women's open eight - and feature Helen Walshe, who rarely rows in crew boats for the club.