Displaying items by tag: Heaphy

28th July 2018

Fast-Finishing McCarthys Secure Place in A Final at World Under-23 Rowing

#Rowing: The McCarthy twins, Jake and Fintan, gave Ireland its fourth A Finalist at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships in Poland today. They finished second in the semi-final of the lightweight double sculls. This was a close race: Spain led early on and eventually won from fast-finishing Ireland, who had won a battle with New Zealand, who took the third qualifying spot, and Portugal, who took fourth.

The early stages looked very promising for the women’s lightweight double of Lydia Heaphy and Margaret Cremen in their semi-final. They led to 700 metres, but then Greece and, with a more consistent challenge, Italy, moved ahead. The early part of the third quarter saw the Ireland crew fight a battle with Australia. The Australians moved into a clear third and from there Ireland slipped back. They finished fifth, behind the Netherlands, who took fourth.

World Under-23 Rowing Championships, Day Four, Poznan, Poland

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls – Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final) 1 Spain 6:41.66, 2 Ireland (F McCarthy, J McCarthy) 6:42.45, 3 New Zealand 6:44.17.

Single Sculls – Semi-Final (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 United States (B Davison) 7: 14.65, 2 Ireland (R Byrne) 7:17.88, 3 Germany (M Weber) 7:24.24.

Lightweight Single Sculls – D Final (Places 19 to 24): 2 Ireland (H Sutton) 7:21.95.

Women

Lightweight Double Sculls – Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Italy 7:24.69, 2 Australia 7:30.08, 3 Greece 7:31.23; 5 Ireland (L Heaphy, M Cremen) 7:47.66.

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Skibbereen Caught By a Lens

#Rowing: The West Cork arts centre, Uillinn, is hosting an exhibition of images of Skibbereen Rowing Club. Photographer Debbie Heaphy recorded the action at the club for four years, often accompanying coach Dominic Casey in his launch on early morning training sessions. “Having spent the last four years with these athletes, I am totally in awe of the resilience, focus and commitment of these young people. I have watched them strive to achieve what, at times, would seem to be unreachable goals,” Heaphy said.

The year 2015 was a very successful one for the club, with 17 Skibbereen athletes rowing for the Irish national squad, and two rowers, brothers Gary and Paul O’Donovan, qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

This exhibition is a compilation of what Heaphy regards as her best photographs from her time at the club. “I hope to portray the intensity of training and the essence and sense of place of the Ilen River, and also a snap shot of the unique and extraordinary journey of the boys and girls from Skibbereen who are determined to take on the world.”

There is a limited-edition book of photographs and essays on sale. Sales of this publication and the photographs on exhibition will go towards raising funds for the club.

The book also be purchased directly from www.skibbereenrowingclub.com or www.debbieheaphyenvironment.com

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.