Medal prospects well schooled for Eton test

ROWING: The Ireland squad return home this weekend from their Swiss training camp for a short rest and a week of training before the World Championships in Eton, England, which begin two weeks from Sunday (August 20th).

Ireland coach Harald Jahrling was "quite pleased with how training has gone" and has chosen six crews for the big event of the year. Two crews with realistic medal hopes, the lightweight men's four and the lightweight women's double scull, are joined by the men's four and lightweight double, and single scullers Caroline Ryan and Seán Jacob.

Jacob, who was in last year's four, teamed up with Con Collis in the double scull at the final World Cup in Lucerne, but travelled alone to the camp in St Moritz, presaging his entry in the single for Eton.

The lightweight four have been outstanding this season, and are "in good form" according to Jahrling, who ventures no further with a prediction than saying he "hopes" they win a medal. The women's lightweight double of Sinéad Jennings and Niamh Ní Chéilleachair will have a battle in their class with eight to 10 crews in contention for medals.

A medal moved out of reach of the Irish at the World Junior Championships in Amsterdam yesterday. The coxed four had to settle for a place in tomorrow's B final after finishing fourth in their repêchage. Ukraine and Poland took the two qualification spots for the A final, with the USA in third. Britain, who set the early pace, faded back to finish fifth.

The big Northern Ireland team for the Commonwealth Games Regatta tomorrow and Sunday in Strathclyde Park in Scotland certainly won't be without quality competition. South Africa's Ramon Di Clemente and Donovan Cech, who won silver at last year's World Championships, are entered in the men's pair. This is one of the three categories - along with the lightweight double and lightweight pair - in which John Armstrong and Danny Meanley are entered.

Back home, one of the most popular events of the year, the Carrick-on-Shannon Sprints, has a big entry on Sunday.

IRELAND TEAM (for World Championships, Eton, August 20th-27th: Men Four: C Folan, S O'Neill, S Casey, A Martin; Lightweight Four: G Towey, E Coakley, R Archibald, P Griffin; Lightweight Double Scull: R Coakley, T Harnedy; Single Scull: S Jacob. Women Single Scull: C Ryan; Lightweight Double Scull: S Jennings, N Ni Cheilleachair.