An impressive display from Ireland's lightweight coxless four at the World Rowing Championships in Cologne yesterday saw them win their first-round heat and qualify for Friday's semi-finals.

The quartet of Derek Holland in bow and Brendan Dolan plus Neville Maxwell and Anthony O'Connor, from last year's silver medal winning pair in France, clocked six minutes 30.49 seconds into the breeze to beat Italy into second place by over four seconds. A cautious start saw the Irish lying half a length down in third place at 500 metres.

In second at half way, they maintained their form as the Italians lost their composure and 20 strokes were enough to see them go from a canvas down into the lead.

"We did exactly what we planned to do," said Dolan, "settle early and pump it steady all the way."

They were ready for an Italian comeback, though. "We heard them calling at 1,200 metres," said Holland, "and we were ready to hold our own."

But it was their first race together and no one was throwing hats in the air in early celebration.

Despite winning, their time was just fifth fastest of the day.

The men's lightweight sculling quad missed out on the chance of going straight into Sunday's final when they finished second in their heat.

The Italian crew, World Cup final winners from Lucerne and current champions, won in 6:20.88.

Gearoid Towey, Owen and Neal Byrne with Niall O'Toole at stroke stopped the clock at 6:25.00.

With coach Mick Desmond ringing the changes in Irish sculling circles, it was a revamped squad going this year in place of last year's bronze-winning crew in Aiguebelette in France.

But, says Holland, he is planning for the future.

"The doubles is the Olympic boat," he explains, "and with the way funding is supplied, a good result here will have four men in full-time training for the next Olympics".

In women's light sculling quads, the Greeks came through to notch up a surprise victory while the outclassed Irish finished fourth almost 26 seconds down.

Fast-starting opposition in the men's lightweight doubles left John Armstrong and Eugene Croakley with a deficit over the first 500 metres they could not make up.

They finished third with just one to qualify for the semi-finals.