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Displaying items by tag: World Cup

#Canoeing: Ronan Foley took gold medals on Saturday and Sunday at the canoe marathon World Cup in in Viana do Castelo in Portugal. The Kilcullen man dominated the short race on Saturday, and then sprinted away from his rivals on the last portage to win the marathon test on the Sunday.

 Barry Watkins took silver in the senior race over the short course on Saturday and took 10th on Sunday – recovering from an unwanted swim in rough conditions.

Canoe Marathon World Cup, Viana Do Castelo, Portugal (Irish interest; selected results):

Saturday

Men – K1 Short Race: 2 B Watkins 13:46.15.

K1 Short Race, Juniors: 1 R Foley 14 min 52.43 sec.

Sunday

Men – K1 Marathon: 10 Watkins 2 hr 21 min 10.20.

K1 Marathon, Junior Final: 1 Foley 1 hr 53 min 7.34 sec.

Published in Canoeing

#Rowing: Ireland’s Paul and Gary O’Donovan took bronze at the World Cup Regatta in Lucerne today. Olympic champions France, as has been the pattern this season, took the lead early and never relinquished it. Italy chased them all the way and took silver.

The Ireland lightweight double was in touch from early on and established themselves firmly in third coming to the line, ahead of Belgium and Greece.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne, Day Three (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls – A Final: 1 France 6:12.96, 2 Italy 6:15.43, 3 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:18.15; 4 Belgium 6:19.30, 5 Greece 6:19.95, 6 Czech Republic 6:21.34.

Women

Quadruple Sculls – A Final: 5 Britain (3 H Nixon) 6:29.50.

Single Sculls – B Final: 1 Ukraine 7:39.55, 2 New Zealand 7:41.55, 3 Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:42.23, 4 Denmark One 7:42.26, 5 Belarus 7:42.89, 6 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:56.07.

 

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Sanita Puspure took third in the B Final of the women’s single sculls at the World Cup Regatta in Lucerne, ninth overall, while Monika Dukarska was three places further back, in sixth (12th overall). Puspure was part of a five-boat sprint finish, and she showed good speed to finish ahead of Fie-Udby Erichsen of Denmark and Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus. Ahead of her was winner Diana Dymchenko of Ukraine and Hannah Osborne of New Zealand. Dukarska, who had started well, had fallen a few lengths off this leading group by the finish.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne, Day Three (Irish interest)

Women

Single Sculls – B Final: 1 Ukraine 7:39.55, 2 New Zealand 7:41.55, 3 Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:42.23, 4 Denmark One 7:42.26, 5 Belarus 7:42.89, 6 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:56.07.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Shane O’Driscoll and Mark O’Donovan won the A Final of the lightweight pair at the World Cup in Lucerne today. They swept past early leaders Britain in the third quarter and won well. Russia showed surprising pace late on to take silver, while Brazil took the bronze, ahead of Britain’s Sam Scrimgeour and Joel Cassells.

O’Driscoll and O’Donovan won World Cup gold in Belgrade and Poznan and are European champions thanks to their win in Racice.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne – Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Pair – A Final: 1 Ireland (M O’Donovan, S O’Driscoll) 6:34.00, 2 Russia 6:36.28, 3 Brazil 6:37.50; 4 Britain 6:38.84, 5 France 6:45.94, 6 Norway 6:58.68.

Lightweight Double Sculls Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final) – Semi Final One: 1 France 6:20.57, 2 Belgium 6:24.68, 3 Greece 6:26.92.

Semi Final Two: 1 Italy 6:20.82, 2 Czech Republic 6:22.05, 3 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:23.75; 4 Britain 6:25.25, 5 Japan Two 6:27.84, 6 Russia 6:34.33.

Women

Single Sculls Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final) – Semi Final One: 1 Austria (M Lobnig) 7:35.06, 2 Germany (A Thiele) 7:35.96, 3 Britain (V Thornley) 7:36.09; 4 Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:36.90; 6 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:55.0.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Paul and Gary O’Donovan qualified for the A Final of their fourth major regatta this season when they finished third in their semi-final at the World Cup in Lucerne. They reached the top stage in World Cup regattas in Belgrade and Poznan and at the European Championships.

Italy took the risky strategy of setting off very fast in the hope of leading all the way. It worked, and they won. The Czech Republic, Ireland and Russia were their main rivals until the final quarter, when, as the Russians faded in the hot conditions, the Czechs and Ireland nailed down the second and third spots. Britain’s Jamie Copus and Sam Mottram pushed to pass Ireland but could not.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne – Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final) – Semi Final One: 1 France 6:20.57, 2 Belgium 6:24.68, 3 Greece 6:26.92.

Semi Final Two: 1 Italy 6:20.82, 2 Czech Republic 6:22.05, 3 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:23.75; 4 Britain 6:25.25, 5 Japan Two 6:27.84, 6 Russia 6:34.33.

Women

Single Sculls Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final) – Semi Final One: 1 Austria (M Lobnig) 7:35.06, 2 Germany (A Thiele) 7:35.96, 3 Britain (V Thornley) 7:36.09; 4 Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:36.90; 6 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:55.0.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Ireland’s Sanita Puspure and Monika Dukarska finished fourth and sixth in their semi-final today and will take part in the B Final at the World Cup Regatta in Lucerne. Magdalena Lobnig of Austria, Annekatrin Thiele of Germany and Vicky Thornley of Britain took the qualifying places, in that order, but Puspure was finishing fast and came within a second of overtaking Thornley, who just held on to that vital third place.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne – Day Two (Irish interest)

Women

Single Sculls Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final) – Semi Final One: 1 Austria (M Lobnig) 7:35.06, 2 Germany (A Thiele) 7:35.96, 3 Britain (V Thornley) 7:36.09; 4

Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:36.90; 6 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:55.0.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan won their repechage to qualify for the semi-finals of the lightweight double sculls at the World Cup Regatta in Lucerne today. The Skibbereen men had not intended to be in the race – run in very hot conditions – but they judged it well, taking out both Russia and Denmark in the final 200 metres.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Pair – Exhibition Race: 1 Britain (J Cassells, S Scrimgeour) 6:57.32, 2 Ireland (M O’Donovan, S O’Driscoll) 6:59.26, 3 Brazil 6:59.29.

Lightweight Double Sculls (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechage) – Heat One: 1 France 6:27.36, 2 Britain One 6:30.70. Heat Two: 1 Greece 6:25.88, 2 Czech Republic 6:26.39; 3 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:28.63. Heat Three: 1 Italy 6:29.15, 2 Belgium 6:32.44.

Repechage One (First Three to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C Final): 1 Ireland 6:44.33, 2 Denmark 6:45.71, 3 Russia 6:45.91.

Women

Single Sculls (Three to Quarter-Finals; rest to quarters or E Final) – Heat Three: 1 Austria (M Lobnig) 7:46.97, 2 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:51.44, 3 Latvia (E Gulbe) 8:02.20.

Heat Five: 1 Britain (V Thornley) 7:45.65, 2 Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:47.84, 3 Finland (E Karppinen) 7:58.04.

Quarter-Finals (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals): QF One: 1 Ireland (Puspure) 7:52.50, 2 United States (F Mueller) 7:53.39,

3 Belarus (E Karsten) 7:59.13.

QF Three: 1 Canada (C Zeeman) 7:57.04, 2 Germany (A Thiele) 8:01.51, 3 Ireland (Dukarska) 8:03.64.

 

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Both of Ireland’s competitors made the semi-finals of the women’s single sculls at the World Cup in Lucerne. Sanita Puspure won her quarter-final, while Monika Dukarska took a comfortable third in hers.

Puspure had tough opponents. She battled it out with Felice Mueller of the United States and Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus throughout. They moved away from the rest of the field and though all three were all but guaranteed to take the qualification places, Puspure finished impressively to win.

Dukarska’s third was a clear one. Again, three women broke free. Carling Zeeman took over to win, with Annekatrin Thiele of Germany second and Dukarska not far behind – over 11 seconds clear of Eeva Karppinen of Finland in fourth.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Pair – Exhibition Race: 1 Britain (J Cassells, S Scrimgeour) 6:57.32, 2 Ireland (M O’Donovan, S O’Driscoll) 6:59.26, 3 Brazil 6:59.29.

Lightweight Double Sculls (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechage) – Heat One: 1 France 6:27.36, 2 Britain One 6:30.70. Heat Two: 1 Greece 6:25.88, 2 Czech Republic 6:26.39; 3 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:28.63. Heat Three: 1 Italy 6:29.15, 2 Belgium 6:32.44.

Women

Single Sculls (Three to Quarter-Finals; rest to quarters or E Final) – Heat Three: 1 Austria (M Lobnig) 7:46.97, 2 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:51.44, 3 Latvia (E Gulbe) 8:02.20.

Heat Five: 1 Britain (V Thornley) 7:45.65, 2 Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:47.84, 3 Finland (E Karppinen) 7:58.04.

Quarter-Finals (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals): QF One: 1 Ireland (Puspure) 7:52.50, 2 United States (F Mueller) 7:53.39,

3 Belarus (E Karsten) 7:59.13.

QF Three: 1 Canada (C Zeeman) 7:57.04, 2 Germany (A Thiele) 8:01.51, 3 Ireland (Dukarska) 8:03.64.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Shane O’Driscoll and Mark O’Donovan finished well to take second in their lightweight pair exhibition race at the World Cup regatta in Lucerne today. Britain’s Joel Cassells and Sam Scrimgeour took over at the head of the field Ireland crew early on and stayed there despite pushes by Brazil and Ireland. The South American crew looked to have taken second coming up to the line, but O’Driscoll and O’Donovan snatched it from them by three hundredths of a second.

 The Final is on tomorrow, Saturday.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Pair – Exhibition Race: 1 Britain (J Cassells, S Scrimgeour) 6:57.32, 2 Ireland (M O’Donovan, S O’Driscoll) 6:59.26, 3 Brazil 6:59.29.

Lightweight Double Sculls (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechage) – Heat One: 1 France 6:27.36, 2 Britain One 6:30.70. Heat Two: 1 Greece 6:25.88, 2 Czech Republic 6:26.39; 3 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:28.63. Heat Three: 1 Italy 6:29.15, 2 Belgium 6:32.44.

Women

Single Sculls (Three to Quarter-Finals; rest to quarters or E Final) – Heat Three: 1 Austria (M Lobnig) 7:46.97, 2 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:51.44, 3 Latvia (E Gulbe) 8:02.20.

Heat Five: 1 Britain (V Thornley) 7:45.65, 2 Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:47.84, 3 Finland (E Karppinen) 7:58.04.

 

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: Ireland’s Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan finished third in their heat and must come through a repechage if they are to qualify for the semi-finals of the lightweight double sculls at the World Cup Regatta in Lucerne.

Just two crews qualified directly and the Ireland crew trailed Greece and the Czech Republic through the four quarters of the race. With 250 metres to go the men in green looked set to take out at least one of the two, but both powered on and Ireland, stuck in third, faded back coming up to the line.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechage) – Heat One: 1 France 6:27.36, 2 Britain One 6:30.70.

Heat Two: 1 Greece 6:25.88, 2 Czech Republic 6:26.39; 3 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:28.63.

Heat Three: 1 Italy 6:29.15, 2 Belgium 6:32.44.

Women

Single Sculls (Three to Quarter-Finals; rest to quarters or E Final) – Heat Three: 1 Austria (M Lobnig) 7:46.97, 2 Ireland Two (M Dukarska) 7:51.44, 3 Latvia (E Gulbe) 8:02.20.

Heat Five: 1 Britain (V Thornley) 7:45.65, 2 Ireland One (S Puspure) 7:47.84, 3 Finland (E Karppinen) 7:58.04.

Published in Rowing
Page 5 of 16

Sharks in Irish waters

Irish waters are home to 71 species of shark, skates and rays, 58 of which have been studied in detail and listed on the Ireland Red List of Cartilaginous fish. Irish sharks range from small Sleeper sharks, Dogfish and Catsharks, to larger species like Frilled, Mackerel and Cow sharks, all the way to the second largest shark in the world, the Basking shark. 

Irish waters provide a refuge for an array of shark species. Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry provides a habitat for several rare and endangered sharks and their relatives, including the migratory tope shark, angel shark and undulate ray. This area is also the last European refuge for the extremely rare white skate. Through a European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) project, Marine Institute scientists have been working with fishermen to assess the distribution, diversity, and monthly relative abundance of skates and rays in Tralee, Brandon and Dingle Bays.

“These areas off the southwest coast of Ireland are important internationally as they hold some of the last remaining refuges for angel shark and white skate,” said Dr Maurice Clarke of the Marine Institute. “This EMFF project has provided data confirming the critically endangered status of some species and provides up-to-date information for the development of fishery measures to eliminate by-catch.” 

Irish waters are also home to the Black Mouthed Catshark, Galeus melastomus, one of Ireland’s smallest shark species which can be found in the deep sea along the continental shelf. In 2018, Irish scientists discovered a very rare shark-nursery 200 nautical miles off the west coast by the Marine Institute’s ROV Holland 1 on a shelf sloping to 750 metres deep. 

There are two ways that sharks are born, either as live young or from egg casings. In the ‘case’ of Black Mouthed Catsharks, the nursery discovered in 2018, was notable by the abundance of egg casings or ‘mermaid’s purses’. Many sharks, rays and skate lay eggs, the cases of which often wash ashore. If you find an egg casing along the seashore, take a photo for Purse Search Ireland, a citizen science project focusing on monitoring the shark, ray and skate species around Ireland.

Another species also found by Irish scientists using the ROV Holland 1 in 2018 was a very rare type of dogfish, the Sail Fin Rough Shark, Oxynotus paradoxus. These sharks are named after their long fins which resemble the trailing sails of a boat, and live in the deep sea in waters up to 750m deep. Like all sharks, skates and rays, they have no bones. Their skeleton is composed of cartilage, much like what our noses and ears are made from! This material is much more flexible and lighter than bone which is perfect for these animals living without the weight of gravity.

Throughout history sharks have been portrayed as the monsters of the sea, a concept that science is continuously debunking. Basking sharks were named in 1765 as Cetorhinus maximus, roughly translated to the ‘big-nosed sea monster’. Basking sharks are filter feeders, often swimming with their mouths agape, they filter plankton from the water.

They are very slow moving and like to bask in the sun in shallow water and are often seen in Irish waters around Spring and early Summer. To help understand the migration of these animals to be better able to understand and conserve these species, the Irish Basking Shark Group have tagged and mapped their travels.

Remarkably, many sharks like the Angel Shark, Squatina squatina have the ability to sense electricity. They do this via small pores in their skin called the ‘Ampullae of Lorenzini’ which are able to detect the tiny electrical impulses of a fish breathing, moving or even its heartbeat from distances of over a kilometre! Angel sharks, often referred to as Monkfish have a distinctively angelic shape, with flattened, large fins appearing like the wings of an angel. They live on the seafloor in the coastal waters of Ireland and much like a cat are nocturnal, primarily active at night.

The intricate complexity of shark adaptations is particularly noticeable in the texture of their skin. Composed of miniscule, perfectly shaped overlapping scales, the skin of shark provides them with protection. Often shark scales have been compared to teeth due to their hard enamel structure. They are strong, but also due to their intricate shape, these scales reduce drag and allow water to glide past them so that the shark can swim more effortlessly and silently. This natural flawless design has been used as inspiration for new neoprene fabric designs to help swimmers glide through the water. Although all sharks have this feature, the Leafscale Gulper Shark, Centrophorus squamosus, found in Ireland are specifically named due to the ornate leaf-shape of their scales.