Claire Lambe and Sarah Dolan moved confidently into the semi-finals of the World Under-23 Championships in Belarus by placing second in their heat of the lightweight double sculls. Canada set a startling pace at the start and won from there, but Ireland carved out a notch in second and held it to the end. Spain held off Denmark for the third direct qualification spot for the A/B semi-finals.

World Under-23 Championships, Belarus. Day One (Irish interest):

Men

Lightweight Pair – Heat Four (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (P Hanily, A English) 6:54.86, 2 Hong Kong 6:59.95; 3 Moldova 7:11.77, 4 Belarus 7:16.45

Lightweight Quadruple Scull – Heat One (First Three Directly to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Germany 6:00.49, 2 Ireland (N Kenny, M Maher, M O’Donovan, J Ryan) 6:01.75, 3 Greece 6:02.89; 4 France 6:04.16, 5 Slovakia 6:32.71

Women

Single Scull – Heat Three (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Norway (T Gjoertz) 7:50.13, 2 Estonia (K Pajusalu) 7:51.10; 3 Britain 7:59.26, 4 Serbia 8:00.09, 5 Ireland (L Dilleen) 8:05.71.

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Two (First Three Directly to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Canada 7:23.54, 2 Ireland (C Lambe, S Dolan) 7:27.22, 3 Spain 7:32.85; 4 Denmark 7:33.31, 5 Romania 7:46.29.

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Two Ireland crews qualified directly for the A/B Semi-Finals at the World Under-23 Championships in Brest, Belarus. The lightweight pair of Peter Hanily and Anthony English won their four-boat heat by over five seconds from Hong Kong. Both qualified.

The lightweight quadruple scull of Niall Kenny, Michael Maher, Mark O’Donovan and Justin Ryan were second to Germany in their heat, which had three qualifiers. Greece were third.

Lisa Dilleen, back in action after months of a lay-off, finished fifth in her heat of the women’s single scull. The race was won by Tale Gjoertz of Norway, who took over the lead from Kalsa Pajusalu of Norway, who led until 1700 metres. They both went through directly. 

World Under-23 Championships, Belarus. Day One (Irish interest):

Men

Lightweight Pair – Heat Four (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (P Hanily, A English) 6:54.86, 2 Hong Kong 6:59.95; 3 Moldova 7:11.77, 4 Belarus 7:16.45

Lightweight Quadruple Scull – Heat One (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Germany 6:00.49, 2 Ireland (N Kenny, M Maher, M O’Donovan, J Ryan) 6:01.75, 3 Greece 6:02.89; 4 France 6:04.16, 5 Slovakia 6:32.71

Women

Single Scull – Heat Three (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Norway (T Gjoertz) 7:50.13, 2 Estonia (K Pajusalu) 7:51.10; 3 Britain 7:59.26, 4 Serbia 8:00.09, 5 Ireland (L Dilleen) 8:05.71.

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NUIG retained their senior eights title at the National Championships in Farran Wood in Cork with an on-the-line victory over Queen’s University which was remarkably similar to their win last year.

The two crews were locked together in the closing stages and a photo finish was needed to separate them. The official verdict was three feet.

The women’s senior eight crown also produced an extraordinary result: a crew formed just for  the Championships won – and won well. Former and current internationals Laura D’Urso, Monika Dukarska and Sinead Jennings were all part of the ‘super eight’ which had almost four seconds to spare over the Old Collegians/UCD composite in second. Favourites Commercial were third.

In the last Championship finals of the day, Shannon won the men's novice coxed four and Queen's A the women's novice coxed four.

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork, Day Two

Men, Eight – Senior: 1 NUIG 5:44.61, 2 Queen’s University A 5:44.74, 3 Commercial/Old Collegians/UCD 5:50.6, 4 Muckross 5:51.29, 5 Queen’s B 6:04.5.

Junior 18: 1 Bann 5:54.4, 2 Skibbereen 5:57.6, 3 Portora 5:59.2, 4 St Joseph’s College 5:59.9, 5 Presentation College 6:19.2, 6 Colaiste Iognaid 6:27.5.

Fours – Intermediate, coxed: 1 University of Limerick 6:24.9, 2 Galway RC A 6:29.7, 3 Queen’s University 6:32.2, 4 Neptune 6:32.6, 5 UCD 6:35.3, 6 Trinity 6:36.6. Novice, coxed: 1 Shannon 6:51.1, 2 Fossa 6:54.4, 3 Cork BC 6:55.6, 4 Workmen’s, Killarney 7:07.1, 5 Skibbereen A 7:10.9, 6 Trinity 7:35.6.

Women

Eights – Senior: 1 Castleconnell/Carrick-on-Shannon/St Michael’s/University of Limerick/City of Derry/Killorglin/Skibbereen/Cork 6:36.8, 2 UCD/Old Collegians 6:40.7, 3 Commercial 6:41.7, 4 Trinity 6:43.1, 5 NUIG 6:58.1

Junior 18: 1 Portora 6:42.5, 2 St Michael’s 6:46.0, 3 Methodist College 6:56.7, 4 Muckross 7:16.7.

Fours – Intermediate, coxed: 1 Cork BC 7:12.0, 2 NUIG A 7:13.3, 3 Skibbereen 7:17.2, 4 UCD 7:22.6, 5 NUIG B 7:44.8. Novice, coxed: 1 Queen’s A 7:35.9, 2 St Michael’s 7:40.2, 3 Trinity 7:41.3, 4 UCD A 7:54.5, 5 UCD B 7:56.1, 6 Carrick-on-Shannon 8:05.2.

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There was controversy in the semi-finals of the men's senior eights at the National Rowing Championships in Cork.

The University of Limerick cox failed to weigh in for the second semi-final, and the crew was disqualified. 

This left only three crews in the race: Muckross, NUIG and St Michael’s.

One crew could not make it through to the final, and St Michael’s lost out in a race won by Muckross, with NUIG taking the second place in the final.

In the other semi-final, Queen’s qualified two crews, and they were joined by a composite crew from  Commercial, UCD and Old Collegians.

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Bann of Coleraine had a fine victory at the National Rowing Championships in Cork in the junior 18 eights. Skibbereen, who had a very impressive semi-final win, were second.

Portora won the women’s junior 18 eight by a length from St Michael’s of Limerick, who challenged them in the closing stages.

Skibbereen looked odds-on to win the women’s intermediate coxed four, but Cork Boat Club sprung a surprise.

University of Limerick had a surprisingly big margin over Galway Rowing Club in their win in the men’s intermediate coxed four, with half a length of clear water as they came to the line.

National Championships, Day Two

Men

Eights - Junior 18: 1 Bann 5:54.4, 2 Skibbereen 5:57.6, 3 Portora 5:59.2, 4 St Joseph’s College 5:59.9, 5 Presentation College 6:19.2, 6 Colaiste Iognaid 6:27.5.

Fours – Intermediate, coxed: 1 University of Limerick 6:24.9, 2 Galway RC A 6:29.7, 3 Queen’s University 6:32.2, 4 Neptune 6:32.6, 5 UCD 6:35.3, 6 Trinity 6:36.6

Women

Eights – Junior 18: 1 Portora 6:42.5, 2 St Michael’s 6:46.0, 3 Methodist College 6:56.7, 4 Muckross 7:16.7.

Fours – Intermediate, coxed: 1 Cork BC 7:12.0, 2 NUIG A 7:13.3, 3 Skibbereen 7:17.2, 4 UCD 7:22.6, 5 NUIG B 7:44.8.

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Skibbereen ended a very successful day at the National Championships in Farran Wood in Cork by winning the men’s junior coxed four. Gary O’Donovan, Diarmuid O’Driscoll, Shane O’Driscoll and Paul O’Donovan had over six seconds to spare over Bann B in second.

The men’s novice eight also involved an emphatic win, this time for UCD, with NUIG second.

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork, Day One

Men, Eight – Intermediate: 1 University of Limerick 5:44.8, 2 Galway RC 5:48.1, 3 Trinity 5:55.5, 4 UCD 5:56.2, 5 Carlow 5:56.5, 6 Neptune 5:58.4. Novice: 1 UCD  6:05.9, 2 NUIG 6:12.1, 3 Trinity 6:15.2.

Four – Senior: 1 NUIG (P Giblin, A Martin, C Folan, James Wall), 2 UCD, 3 Galway/Neptune, 4 St Michael’s A, 5 Queen’s A, 6 Cork BC. Junior 18, coxed: 1 Skibbereen (G O’Donovan, D O’Driscoll, s O’Driscoll, P O’Donovan; cox: E O’Regan) 6:28.3, 2 Bann B 6:34.6, 3 St Joseph’s 6:39.3.

Women, Eight – Intermediate: 1 Trinity 6:33.4, 2 Portora 6:36.4, 3 UCD 6:43.4, 4 NUIG 6:48.8. Novice: 1 Queen’s University 6:41.3, 2 St Michael’s 6:46.3, 3 Trinity 6:50.6, 4 UCD 6:57.9, 5 Neptune 6:58.5, 6 NUIG 7:05.5.

Four – Senior: 1 Skibbereen (S Dinneen, D Walsh, C Fitzgerald, O Hayes) 6:55.4, 2 Neptune, Commercial, Old Collegians 6:57.3, 3 Commercial A 6:59.6.

Junior 18: 1 Skibberen 6:57.8, 2 Cork 7:12.6, 3 Commercial 7:14.5, 4 Shannon 7:30.8, 5 Clonmel 7:36.7

NUIG took on and beat UCD in the men’s senior four at the National Championships in Cork. The experienced crew of Paul Giblin, Alan Martin, Cormac Folan and stroke James Wall passed the four rowers who had won the Prince Albert at Henley in the final 500 metres and kept a steady rhythm to win convincingly.

Skibbereen, with three of the crew which won the junior four earlier, had a fine win in the senior eights. Teenagers Shelly Dineen, Denise Walsh and Christine Fitzgerald were joined by Orla Hayes in a crew which saw of a challenge of the composite crew of Elaine Fitzgerald, Claire Ludlow, Becky Quinn and Siobhan Jacob.

The women’s novice eight was won by Queen’s University.

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork, Day One

Men, Eight – Intermediate: 1 University of Limerick 5:44.8, 2 Galway RC 5:48.1, 3 Trinity 5:55.5, 4 UCD 5:56.2, 5 Carlow 5:56.5, 6 Neptune 5:58.4

Four – Senior: 1 NUIG (P Giblin, A Martin, C Folan, James Wall), 2 UCD, 3 Galway/Neptune, 4 St Michael’s A, 5 Queen’s A, 6 Cork BC.

Women, Eight – Intermediate: 1 Trinity 6:33.4, 2 Portora 6:36.4, 3 UCD 6:43.4, 4 NUIG 6:48.8. Novice: 1 Queen’s University 6:41.3, 2 St Michael’s 6:46.3, 3 Trinity 6:50.6, 4 UCD 6:57.9, 5 Neptune 6:58.5, 6 NUIG 7:05.5.

Four – Senior: 1 Skibbereen (S Dinneen, D Walsh, C Fitzgerald, O Hayes) 6:55.4, 2 Neptune, Commercial, Old Collegians 6:57.3, 3 Commercial A 6:59.6.

Junior 18: 1 Skibberen 6:57.8, 2 Cork 7:12.6, 3 Commercial 7:14.5, 4 Shannon 7:30.8, 5 Clonmel 7:36.7

University of Limerick fought of a strong challenge by Galway Rowing Club to take the Intermediate Eight title at the National Championships at the National Rowing Centre in Cork by one length. 

Trinity won the women’s intermediate eights title. In a four-boat race their closest challengers were the junior crew from Portora, who overlapped them for much of the course. Trinity, coxed by club captain Rachel Nazarin, powered through the line to win by a length.

In the third Championship event of the morning session, the women’s junior 18 coxless four, Skibbereen had a very impressive win.

National Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Cork, Day One

Men, Eight – Intermediate: 1 University of Limerick 5:44.8, 2 Galway RC 5:48.1, 3 Trinity 5:55.5, 4 UCD 5:56.2, 5 Carlow 5:56.5, 6 Neptune 5:58.4

Women, Eight – Intermediate: 1 Trinity 6:33.4, 2 Portora 6:36.4, 3 UCD 6:43.4, 4 NUIG 6:48.8.

Four – Junior 18: 1 Skibberen 6:57.8, 2 Cork 7:12.6, 3 Commercial 7:14.5, 4 Shannon 7:30.8, 5 Clonmel 7:36.7

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The Ireland under-23 lightweight quadruple scull finished sixth in their A Final at the World Cup in Lucerne. France made the pace for much of the race, but it was World Champions Italy who took gold. Germany took silver and France bronze.

The Ireland crew, formed in the run-up to this event, were a little off the pace all through. They will have gained invaluable experience from competing at this level, said Ireland performance director Martin McElroy.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne

Lightweight Quadruple Scull – A Final: 1 Italy 6:30.06, 2 Germany One 6:32.67, 3 France 6:32.80; 4 Germany Two 6:35.12, 5 Denmark 6:35.46, 6 Ireland (N Kenny, M Maher, M O’Donovan, J Ryan) 6:42.42.

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Siobhan McCrohan finished sixth in the A Final of the lightweight single scull at the World Cup regatta in Lucerne. The 23-year-old did well in the early stages and was second at 500 metres. However, as her opponents made their moves in a good race McCrohan dropped back. Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece, who led for most of the 2,000 metres, was pushed into silver medal position by Marie-Louise Draeger of Germany. Fabiana Beltrame of Brazil took the bronze medal.

World Cup Regatta, Lucerne

Lightweight Single Scull – A Final: 1 Germany One (M-L Draeger) 7:48.92, 2 Greece (A Tsiavou) 7:50.69, 3 Brazil (F Beltrame) 7:53.16; 4 Britain (A Dennis) 7:57.47, 5 Italy (E Bello) 7:58.14, 6 Ireland (S McCrohan) 8:04.60.

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