The dreaded one start disqualification ruling introduced by FINA, will be in operation throughout the three days' competition in the Leisureland international meet in Salthill this weekend.

Since its introduction the rule, whereby a swimmer who breaks is banished from the blocks, has been proving the bane of sprinters' lives.

And it could cost the top sprinters considerable sums of money in the special sprint challenge events. One anonymous donor has put up £1,000 towards these races which will now involve a women's and men's event.

Established fast starters such as Mike Fibbins and Mark Foster of the UK, Jeremy Linn and Jon Olsen of the US and not least world short and long-course record holder Frederick Deburghgrave of Belgium are some of the obvious entries likely to be inhibited by the ruling.

"Can you imagine qualifying for an Olympic final and being disqualified first go," said national coach Ger Doyle.

Doyle's protege in New Ross, Hugh O'Connor, will be in the sprint line-up in Galway. O'Connor gave clear indication of his form at the Millennium meet in Lisburn last week. The New Ross youth has rarely been in such promising form at this time of year.

Nick O'Hare returns from Canada for Salthill and cannot be ruled out for a placing in the 25 metres challenge event.

The same applies to Chantal Gibney, now back in Dublin pleased with her training programme in Florida under the watchful eye of Peter Banks, who has progressed from his days at Trojan to become one of the world's most respected coaches. Chantal returns to Florida next week.

Peter Lowth, currently the closest to an Olympic time on butterfly, has no option but to restrict his swimming due to his final exams at Trinity. He is not certain when his long-course preparations can begin.

For the Cormorant man to miss 50 metre training with the Team 2000 squad in France next month could prove a serious handicap at a time when all the top aspirants are setting sights on the first major long-course event in Austria at the end of April.

Advantages held by Ulster squad members over their southern Team 2000 colleagues tend to surface every now and then.

Ulster swimmers can take advantage of the Ulster Sports Council funding, when they compete at the world short-course championships in Athens next month but impoverished Swim Ireland are not sending a team. Appointing staff for an Ireland team is the business of the National body. The matter rests there for the moment.