Lisa Dilleen and Laura D’Urso are the winner's of Afloat's inaugural Rowers of the Year for 2009. Competing as a double scull, they put Ireland on the map at the World Junior Championships in Brive in August, reaching the final of this tough event and finishing fourth. Dilleen, from Galway, and D’Urso, from Donegal, had been impressive winners at the Munich Junior regatta in May.
Dilleen won four titles at the National Championships in July. Dilleen (left) and the Ireland double scull (below) were coached by Gearoid Mitchell.
Rower of the Year award: The judging panel is made up of Liam Gorman, rowing correspondent of The Irish Times, President of Rowing Ireland Anthony Dooley and David O'Brien, Editor of Afloat magazine. Monthly awards for achievements during the year have appeared on afloat.ie. The overall national award goes to the person or crew who, in the judges' opinion, achieved the most notable results in, or made the most significant contribution to rowing during 2009. Thanks for your interest!