Today's elite test at Blessington has been scaled back to include just single and double sculls, with no sweep oarsmen. The unavailability of some of the top athletes, to some extent because of exams, according to national convenor Sebastiaan Peeters, means "we will make do with what we have".

The intention is still to send boats to the Essen regatta later this month, although the entry will be scaled back. Peeters is still upbeat about the prospects of forming competitive crews, but says the elite must be fully available after Essen.

Gearoid Towey and Tony O'Connor, who may form a lightweight pair, are based in Britain at the moment. Neil Casey, who may team up with Neville Maxwell in another pair, is facing into exams.

Portadown's regatta tomorrow will have the usual, mostly Northern entry. Bad news, however, comes from the other end of the country. Cork regatta, scheduled for tomorrow week, May 12th, has fallen victim to the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The venue, the National Rowing Centre, is in a forest park and it is understood Coillte would not open it until Monday, which was too late for proper preparation for the regatta. Cork may be run later in the year, but the cancellation raises the worrying prospect of the sport's premier venue being off limits again if the foot-and-mouth crisis flares into new life.

Fermoy regatta, on Sunday week, May 13th, is still on, the organisers point out.