Irish do well on Nilsen ratings

Rowing: "We are happy - all the kids showed fighting spirit," was the characteristically gnomic pronouncement of the man in charge of the Irish squad, Thor Nilsen, on his charges' performance at the World Cup regatta in Milan, which finished on Saturday.

Ireland, without some of the big names, won a silver medal in the women's lightweight single scull, through Sinéad Jennings, had a B final win in the men's lightweight double scull and finished fourth in the B final in the lightweight four.

The silver for Jennings was a satisfactory return to action in her first regatta since she pulled out of last year's World Championships with an injury. She has targeted the lightweight double scull, an Olympic event, returning to the single as Ireland tried a different combination in the double.

On Saturday, the Donegal woman had to settle for a boat that was too big for her yet battled well. As has become her style, she hung back in the early stages and picked off her opponents through the race, but struggling with the unfamiliar boat, she was not able to head Britain's Jo Hammond, a surprise winner by two seconds.

The B final win for Tim Harnedy and Eugene Coakley in the lightweight double scull is encouraging for a number of reasons. The two Skibbereen men are in their early 20s yet put experienced performers behind them - the Netherlands finished second and the Czech Republic, with former World single sculls champion Michal Vabrousek in the bow, came in third.

If this performance could be reproduced in the World Championships at the same venue in August, where finishing in the top 11 secures a berth, Ireland would be guaranteed a place for this boat at the Athens Olympics.

The fourth place for the men's four, behind Chile, Britain and Portugal, also puts them in this bracket, although a number of countries, notably Australia and Canada, will be part of the picture come the World Championships.

Nilsen was full of praise for what was an untried crew, however. "Half of the crew have never been out at this level before. I'm really pleased with them," he said. "They have good fighting spirit. They are not afraid to fight and that is the main message to bring home: that we have good material for the future."

Back in Ireland, the Metropolitan Regatta on Saturday gave the domestic season just what it needed: a big regatta with representatives from around the country fighting it out on a glorious day.

Those who doubted the fortitude of the Lady Elizabeth senior eight were given their answer as they came from behind to take on and beat NUIG in the final race.

The blue riband event, the men's senior coxless four, provided some consolation for NUIG, although they were pushed hard by Skibbereen.

The Cork club once again showed they have an abundance of young talent, not least in the form of 16-year-old Orla Hayes, who was only a length behind Bantry's Alison Downey in the women's senior single scull. Details in