A win in the premier rowing event, the men's senior eights, and a spirit-lifting win in the junior women's pair were the highlights for Ireland at the Home International regatta in Ghent on Saturday.

The event, which was hosted by Wales but held at the Belgian venue, saw England win three of the four categories, with only Ireland's junior women denying them a clean sweep. The win in the men's eight, where a young Irish crew held off England by a third of a length, cannot be disputed, but Ireland will be disappointed to have had only five wins overall.

The victory for Jennifer Prout and Catriona O'Regan in the junior women's coxless pair was particularly heartening because the two girls are new to this level - indeed they made history in the National Championships by being the first crew from their club, Monkstown and Cork Harbour, to take a medal at such a championship.