IRISH CREWS enjoyed mixed fortunes at Henley Regatta yesterday as rowers braved torrential rain and lightning storms.

Reigning champions, Neptune were made to work in their second round race in the Thames Challenge Cup.Neptune eight upped their stroke rate in the closing stretch to finish narrow winners.

"It was a solid row, but we will have to improve on that if we want to win again," said Neptune stroke Colm O'Rourke. "The heavens opened as soon as our race started and we found it difficult early on, but by the final stages we knew we had it won."

Dublin's Commercial Rowing Club were Ireland's most convincing winners, taking the early ad vantage over local crew, Upper Thames, and rowing away for a comfortable four-length victory in the Wyfold Challenge Cup. In stark contrast, the students of University College Dublin rowed one of the fastest times and yet only won by the narrowest of margins.

There were mixed fortunes for the two remaining crews, both from

Trinity College Dublin. Runaway winners over Staines Rowing Club in the Britannia Challenge Cup, they were surprisingly beaten by Bedford in the Visitors Cup, the regatta's premier race for students.

Galway-based sculler, Serryth Colbert, (23), battled with the elements in his heat of the Diamond Challenge sculls but was never in contention and was soundly beaten by US international, Robert Tucker.