Top crews head for Galway

Rowing: In rowing, spring marks its arrival with the Tribesmen Head of the River in Galway.

This huge time-trial event has a reach matched only by the National Championships later in the year: the senior men's single sculls features Olympian Niall O'Toole; the junior women's eight has a spread of entries from Muckross of Kerry to Methodist College, Belfast.

Tomorrow's head seems to have scored a notable victory in its clash with the London Head: Ireland's best club eight at present, the NUIG crew stroked by Alan Martin, was entered in London - and had a good draw of 13th - but have opted to stay at home instead. Queen's University's top eight is also understood to have opted out of London for Galway.

While Trinity and Lady Elizabeth have continued to prioritise London, the seven crews entered in the men's open eights in Galway should give a flavour of the battles that lie ahead later in the season.

The contest among senior fours may be even sharper: NUIG and NUIG composites should emerge as the strongest of the 12 crews, but Garda did well at the Newry head and Queen's will be anxious to test their early-season form in Galway.

O'Toole's battle with Commercial club-mate Albert Maher may add some spice to the men's open single scull. Richard Archibald has pulled out due to study commitments, but Danny O'Dowd of Galway and John Wholley of NUIG should be real contenders.

The weak state of women's rowing at present is all too evident in the entry for Galway - only one women's open single sculler entered. Trinity, UCD and Neptune will be trying to best each other in the women's open eight.

However, the big virtue of the Tribesmen head - it's sheer strength in depth - is again obvious this year in the entry of 400-odd crews.

Ireland coach Harald Jahrling is set to attend, and will find few better chances to study the best young athletes in the sport - there are, for example 19 men's junior fours entered.

There will be only two "heads" tomorrow (10.30 and 1.30) rather the usual three as the organisers opt to avoid a scheduling clash with the Wales-Ireland rugby match.

"There are 85 people not involved in rowing involved in running the head. You just couldn't ask them to stand out in the rain with a big Irish match on," says organiser Mike Heskin.