Nilsen to test elite squads

ROWING: Little more than a month after an impressive World Championships which saw them qualify two boats for the Olympics, Ireland's elite rowers will be back together for tests in the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick.

The session, which will be attended by the man in charge of the lightweight programme, Thor Nilsen, is scheduled to start on Wednesday week, and may include some work on the water.

However, if Irish conditions turn nasty the athletes may have a pleasant sweetener to contemplate - there are tentative plans to take the squad to South Africa in November for a training camp.

The Southern Hemisphere country has been used before by Irish rowers, with sculler Albert Maher spending time there in both 2000 and 2001.

But the Commercial oarsman has different travel plans, as he has entered the open singles in the Head of the Charles in Boston on Saturday, October 18th.

Commenting on his prospects in this famous time trial, Maher says: "I was 11th last year and I wasn't terribly fit. A good result would be to be in the top five."

The 30-year-old has been the most successful man on the Dublin Sculling Ladder over the last few years and will take part in the DSL time trial a week before the Head of the Charles.

The Cork Sculling Ladder has its time trial on Sunday, starting at 9 a.m. at the marina. Bantry's Alison Downey will be attempting to win her fifth title in a row.