Irish crews compete in the demanding Olympic-class events

ROWING/Munich World Cup Regatta: All Ireland's eight crews go straight into action today at the Munich World Cup regatta, the first event of the season for the international team.

All the crews compete in the demanding Olympic-class events, but Ireland would hope to bring home one medal at least, as the lightweight men's four are the favourites in their class.

The pace and intensity of competition speeds up in the second year of the Olympic cycle, making predictions based on the year before dangerous, but Ireland's lightweight four were second only to France last year, and the French have opted to miss this event. Italy and Australia are the other big contenders here.

Gearóid Towey slots into the Ireland crew which won silver at the World Championships in Japan, replacing Tim Harnedy, who is recovering from injury. The addition of the hugely-competitive Fermoy man is not likely to weaken the crew.

Towey's attempt to row the Atlantic ended in a capsize and dramatic rescue in January, and he struggled to bring down his weight so that he could re-enter the Ireland system. He was tempted to let the attempt slide, but national coach Harald Jahrling convinced him that he could do it. "I spoke to him on the phone and he said 'give it a go'. He made sense and I listened to him," explained Towey.

Jahrling confirmed yesterday that his squad were all fit and ready for action, but would not tempt fate by making predictions. "Let's see how we go. It's our first regatta."

The German's concentration on Olympic events last year yielded two other promising results - a fifth place for the lightweight women's double scull at the World Championships and a bronze medal at this World Cup for the men's heavyweight four.

Both crews are changed this year. Sinead Jennings (29) teams up with 25-year-old Offaly woman Niamh Ní Cheilleachair, who won her place through the trials process, replacing the off-form Heather Boyle.

Jennings, a world champion in the lightweight single scull in 2001, is another fiercely-ambitious athlete, but taking a medal here will be difficult.

The German world champions, Daniela Reimer and Marie-Louise Draeger, are going in different doubles in this event, but the three other crews ahead of Jennings and Boyle in Japan, the United States, Finland and Poland, take to the water today.

The men's heavyweight four is one of the most watched events in rowing just now, not least because the reigning Olympic and world champions, Britain, have attracted such publicity.

Last year, Ireland's crew of Cormac Folan, Seán Jacob, Seán Casey and stroke man Alan Martin reinvigorated Irish heavyweight rowing with their bronze medal here, but ended the season in 10th at the World Championships, conscious that a big gap had still to be bridged if we were to become serious contenders come this year's World Championships at Eton in August.

Jahrling brought Seán O'Neill back from New Zealand to spice up the mix, but then opted to team him with Casey in the pair, with Con Collis effectively replacing Casey in the four.

MUNICH WORLD CUP REGATTA: Ireland Team (all in action today) Men - Four (two crews): C Folan, S Jacob, C Collis, A Martin; J Wall, D Barry, P O'Brien, P Murray (under-23). Pair: S Casey, S O'Neill. Lightweight Four: G Towey, E Coakley, R Archibald, P Griffin. Lightweight Double Scull (two crews): D Heffernan, D Mac Colgain; E Garvey, J Devitt.

Women - Single Scull: C Ryan. Lighweight Double Scull: S Jennings, N Ni Cheilleachair.