#Rowing: The Ireland lightweight double of Paul and Gary O’Donovan finished second in their heat at the European Rowing Championships in Racice in the Czech Republic today. Only the winner of each of the four heats qualified directly for the A/B semi-finals. Russia dominated early on, but the second half of the race belonged to Poland. As Russia faded, they opened a lead of over three seconds over Ireland, and despite a charge by the men in green they never looked other than winners.
France, Germany and Italy won their heats well.
European Championships, Racice, Czech Republic, Day One (Selected Results; Irish interest)
Men
Lightweight Double Sculls – Heats (Winner to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages) – Heat One: 1 France (P Houin, J Azou) 6:26.97. Heat Two: Germany (L Schaefer, J Osborne) 6:37.53.
Heat Three: 1 Poland 6:25.93, 2 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:32.15, 3 Russia 6:36.38, 4 Switzerland 6:40.60, 5 Austria. Heat Four: 1 Italy 6:30.77.
Women
Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat One (First Three to Semi-Finals; rest to Repechage): 1 Ireland (D Walsh) 7:44.85, 2 Denmark (A Runge Holmegaard) 7:49.49, 3 Poland (J Dorociak) 7:49.90; 4 Czech Republic 8:05.07, 5 Portugal 8:08.19. Heat Two: 1 Switzerland 7:42.510. Heat Three: 1 Sweden 7:39.52.