Neptune take on world-class crew

Ireland's top eight take on some of the best-known rowers in the world on Saturday at the London head of the river from Mortlake to Putney.

Neptune won the eights title in emphatic fashion at the Irish national championships last year by combining the national lightweight four with four seasoned heavyweights, and noted heavyweight sculler Albert Maher is likely to be part of the equation this weekend. Most of the crew will fly into London tomorrow night from Spain, fresh from the Irish training camp in Banyoles.

Neptune will start out 12th of the 406 entries - a recognition of their worth in what is effectively a seeded draw - but all eyes in the home crowd should be on the Leander crew which starts first. Three of the British heavyweight four who are reigning World and Olympic champions backbone the crew, which will be stroked by Matthew Pinsent and also includes Steven Redgrave and James Cracknell.

The head will also give other Irish crews a chance to measure their worth against the best: Neptune and Queen's University enter two crews and Garda, Commercial, UCD and UCC each enter their top eights.

Garda's performance in finishing second in last weekend's Tribesmen head suggests they may be serious contenders in national competition this year and their performance in London will help show how justified those hopes are. Their seriousness can be seen from their purchase of a new boat, which they will collect in London - it is an Empacher Eight, worth £22,000. Sponsorship will, they say, be very welcome!