#ROWING: Ireland’s men’s four reached tomorrow’s semi-finals of the World Under-23 Rowing Championships by finishing third in their repechage today. Belarus and Serbia finished first and second, with Ireland showing their determination to stay in the Championships by taking the final qualification spot.  Russia, who are a bigger crew than the Irish, lost out by finishing fourth.

World Under-23 Rowing Championships, Varese, Italy, Day Two (Irish interest; selected results)

Men,

Four – Repechage (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Belarus 6:18.7, 2 Serbia 6:24.33, 3 Ireland (R Bennett, K Neville, F McQuillan-Tolan, R O’Callaghan) 6:28.54, 4 Russia 6:31.41.

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Three (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Finals; Rest to Repechage): 1 France (P Houin, D Debourdeau) 6:34.72, 2 Italy (F Gherzi, N Forcellini) 6:37.86;

3 Ireland (S O’Driscoll, G O’Donovan) 6:38.34, 4 Serbia 6:54.08, 5 Poland 7:04.23,

Women,

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat Three (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Finals; Rest to Repechage): 1 Cyprus 8:04.62, 2 France 8:06.67; 3 Britain 8:13.89, 4 Ireland (D Walsh) 8:22.48, 5 Russia 8:26.00.

#ROWING: Paul O’Donovan won his heat of the lightweight single sculls at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships at Varese in Italy today. Britain’s Sam Mottram held the lead in the middle stages of the race, but O’Donovan passed him and won, with Brazil and Japan taking the other qualifying places for the quarter-finals.

The Ireland four of Richie Bennett, Kevin Neville, Fionán McQuillan-Tolan and Rob O’Callaghan finished fifth in their heat and will compete in a repechage tomorrow. The Irish could not find a way into contention for the top-three spot they needed. Italy won from Croatia and the United States. Belarus took fourth.

World Under-23 Championships, Varese, Italy. Day One (Selected Results; Irish interest)

Men

Four – Heat One (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Italy 6:00.06, 2 Croatia 6:02.31, 3 United States 6:05.38; 4 Belarus 6:07.95, 5 Ireland (R Bennett, K Neville, F McQuillan-Tolan, R O’Callaghan) 6:22.36.

Lightweight Single Sculls (First Four to Quarter-Finals): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:08.58, 2 Britain 7:11.14, 3 Brazil 7:19.02, Japan 7:20.05; 5 Portugal 7:22.59.

#MastersRowing: Commercial had a good weekend at the World Masters Regatta in Varese in Italy. The Dublin club had a number of wins. Each heat winner receives a medal at the regatta, which had a massive entry of more than 3,000.

World Masters Regatta, Varese, Italy (Selected Results; Irish interest) All Heat Winners Medal:

Thursday: Eights ‘D’: 1 Commercial/Cappoquin/Old Collegians. Single Sculls ‘C’: 1 Commercial; 2 Commercial.

Friday: Women’s Four, coxed ‘E’: 2 Belfast Boat Club. Pair ‘D’: 1 Commercial; 2 Cappoquin. Single Sculls ‘A’: 2 Commercial.

Saturday: Pair ‘E’; 1 Drummoyne (Australia)/Belfast Boat Club; 2 Cappoquin. ‘B’: 2 Commercial; 3 Commercial.

Sunday: Pair ‘C’: 1 Commercial. Single Sculls ‘D’: 3 Commercial.