MARKED down by Neptune observers as a future challenger for the Senior I title, the Defence Forces eight stole a march at the start of yesterday's intermediate boat race and finished a length and a half in front of the Garda opposition.

Racing on the north station of the Islandbridge course in a strong flow, the Defence Forces were already two seats up coming out of their first bend and the Garda crew could only manage to level when they came wide out of their lane on the following blue house bend to maximise its advantage.

For the next 500 metres it was head to head racing, Garda unable to make the break before the straight ended. Finishing sharply, the Defence Forces went into the final bend four seats in front and, to the appreciation of bankside military brass, came out of it a clear length up.

The Defences Forces cox, Willie Bowden, who had kept the stroke rate above 38 a minute throughout, assessed the boat's performance. "We weren't as slick as we might have been, but there was a lot of hype in the build up and the start, was quite tense. With yesterday's rain, the flow was stronger than it's been for the last three or four weeks as well and it made racing bends more difficult."

With their sights on the Thames Cup at Henley, both crews race next in the St Michael's Regatta on Saturday.

The Air Corps, who supplied six of the winning crew, had earlier seen their novice eight beat the Army novices in a prelude to the main event. The Air Corps Apprentice School has become something of a nursery for Defence Force talent, and in fact provided crew for both boats. For most of the race the "Army" eight led the way, but on the last bend it caught a crab and the Air Corps rowed through to take a 1 1/4 length win.

Garda pride was restored by the women's coxed four who took advantage of a Defence Force selection that overlooked some of their more experienced rowers stationed in Galway. Taking the lead from the start, the Garda women crossed the line four lengths in front.