University challenges focus of attention

With rowing back more or less at full swing the University Championships at Castlewellan today and the Queen's regatta tomorrow should provide plenty of entertainment.

The line-up for the women's eight today is slightly larger than the men's, with University of Limerick joining Trinity, NUIG, Queen's, UCC and UCD, all of whom are in the men's draw. Queen's regatta has a less impressive line-up. Further afield the first Zurich World Cup of the year, at Princeton in New Jersey, is also set for this weekend. There is no Irish entry in a programme which is confined to the 14 Olympic boat classes.

The Irish coaching programme is concentrated on producing crews for the first World Cup of the year, at Seville on June 14th to 16th. Funding for the appointment of an international coach may follow at the end of the same month. The next scheduled trial under the present coaching programme is on May 4th, with the aim being to settle on small-boat crews who will compete in the Essen regatta two weeks later.

One of the world elite who will be in Dublin on Wednesday is Steve Redgrave, who will be attending the Examiner Young Athletes function.