ROWING News: Even as we head for the dark days of December, rowing doesn't quite grind to a halt: the news for the next few weeks stretches from the river Bann to Brazil, with a few other foreign lands in the mix.

Tomorrow's Bann Head of the River, which runs the three miles from the Cutts to the University of Ulster boathouse in Coleraine, has a respectable entry of 60 or so crews. The small boats head is set for 10 a.m. and the big boats are due to set off at 3 p.m.

Organisers hope the wind comes from anywhere except the north west, which makes conditions choppy.

The Irish Amateur Rowing Union will also hope to avoid choppy waters when they announce their new head coach next week. The executive meets on Sunday, and if they approve the interview panel choice they could be on board within days.

There were three candidates, two from the Antipodes and one from Europe.

Interestingly, in the context of key appointments, it is understood that outgoing Ireland coach Thor Nilsen was in the frame for the position of high performance director in Australia but did not take up the position.

However, Irish Olympian Gearóid Towey is Australia-bound - he trains there for some of the winter - but by a circuitous route. The Trinity College student leaves Ireland on Tuesday for Brazil, where he will be part of the Ireland team in the Red Bull Giants of Rio event tomorrow week, competing in the 15km sand run.

The Corkman travels on to Valparaiso in Chile, where he will do some rowing promotion, and then on to Australia. Towey, one of the fittest of all Irish athletes, is "tipping away" at rowing training in Ireland but will not plan the season ahead until next year.