NI rowers picked for Munich event

Four Northern Ireland rowers have been selected for next week's opening World Cup regatta of 2008 in Munich.

Coleraine men Richard Chambers (men's four) and Alan Campbell (single scull) will both be in action for Britain.

Chambers helped the British four claim last year's world title while Campbell is another Olympic Games medal hope.

Richard Archibald will be in action for Ireland's lightweight four while Derry woman Orlagh Duddy will compete in the lightweight women's double.

Archibald and his Irish team-mates Paul Griffin, Gearoid Towey and Eugene Coakley have yet to secure Olympic Games qualification even though they claimed world championship silver in 2005 and bronze a year later.

The Irish four had a disappointing season last year which left them still requiring qualification for Beijing.

Duddy is forming a new partnership this season with Niamh NiCheilleachair.

Letterkenny woman Sinead Jennings and Caroline Ryan will team up in the heavyweight women's double.

In all, seven Irish boats will compete in the 8-11 May regatta on the 1972 Olympic course in Munich.

So far, the only Irish boat to qualify for Beijing in the heavyweight men's four.

This Munich and Switzerland regattas (30 May-1 June) will be the final events before the last Olympic qualifying regatta in Poznan from 15-18 June.