The story begins on water and ends on ice. Henley, Oxfordshire, July 1986. Gerry Macken and Pat McDonagh, from Dublin’s Neptune Rowing Club, were training for the town’s prestigious regatta.

A hugely encouraging final practice run has skeleton racer Seán Greenwood in confident mood ahead of his Olympic debut tomorrow.

OLYMPIC Council of Ireland chiefs were last night hopeful that the national bobsleigh team will be allowed compete at the Winter Games in Vancouver.

THE Irish women’s bobsleigh team could be sensationally stripped of their place at next week’s Winter Olympics following a legal challenge by Australian officials.