# ROWING: Lisa Dilleen showed her experience to impressive effect as she qualified for the A/B semi-finals of the World Under-23 single scull in Lithuania by placing second in her first race. Two places were on offer from the heat and Rikke Quist of Denmark took a firm hold of first place early and did not let go. Behind her the Daphne Socha of France showed well early in the contest, but Dilleen – who has competed at this level as both a junior and under-23 athlete - passed her with a push after half way and then did enough to repel the charge of Madison Lips of the United States.

World Under-23 Championships, Trakai, Lithuania, Day Two (Irish interest)

Women

Double Scull – Heat Three (First Three directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechage): 1 Austria (M Lobnig, L Farthofer) 7:24.99, 2 France 7:29.62, Ireland (L D’Urso, H Nixon) 7:31.90; 4 Romania 7:42.91, 5 Croatia 7:47.31

Single Scull – Heat One (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechage): 1 Denmark (R Quist) 7:49.16, 2 Ireland (L Dilleen) 7:54.72; 3 United States 7:59.12, 4 Belgium 8:05.15, 5 France 8:08.88.

Lightweight Single Scull – Heat One (First directly to A/B Semi-Final, rest to repechage): 1 Cyprus (A Ioannou) 8:07.34, 2 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:12.84.

# ROWING: The Ireland double of Laura D’Urso and Holly Nixon qualified for the semi-finals of the World Under-23 Championships by finishing third in their heat this morning in Trakai in Lithuania. The Irish chased eventual winners Austria down the course, and filled second until a late challenge by France pushed them into third.

Claire Lambe must compete in a repechage after finishing second in a fight for the one qualification place with Anna Ioannou of Cyprus in their heat of the lightweight single scull. The Dubliner refused to let Ioannou get comfortable in the lead and passed her going into the final quarter, but the Cypriot struck back and retook the lead.

World Under-23 Championships, Trakai, Lithuania, Day Two (Irish interest)

Women

Double Scull – Heat Three (First Three directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechage): 1 Austria (M Lobnig, L Farthofer) 7:24.99, 2 France 7:29.62, Ireland (L D’Urso, H Nixon) 7:31.90; 4 Romania 7:42.91, 5 Croatia 7:47.31

Lightweight Single Scull – Heat One (First directly to A/B Semi-Final, rest to repechage): 1 Cyprus (A Ioannou) 8:07.34, 2 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:12.84.

# ROWING: Ireland’s lightweight pair of Shane O’Driscoll and Jonathan Mitchell came within a third of a second of direct qualification for the semi-finals at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships in Trakai in Lithuania today. In a close finish to a competitive heat, Argentina pipped them for the third qualification place. The Ireland men’s four also finished fourth in their heat and will join the pair in tomorrow’s repechages. Both crews should make it through, as three crews qualify from a line-up of four in both repechages.

World Under-23 Championships, Trakai, Lithuania, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Four – Heat One (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals, rest to Repechage): 4 Ireland (E Mullarkey, S O’Connor, F Manning, T Lynam) 6:20.49.

Lightweight Pair – Heat One (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals, rest to Repechage): 4 Ireland (S O’Driscoll, J Mitchell) 6:58.62.

# ROWING: Ireland will send a team of 10 to the World Under-23 Championships in Trakai in Lithuania which begin on Wednesday, July 11th. Justin Ryan is injured and could not be considered. The men's four includes Yale oarsman Thomas Lynam

Ireland Rowing Team for World Under-23 Championships, Trakai, Lithuania

Men

Four: S O'Connor, F Manning, E Mullarkey, T Lynam. Lightweight Pair: S O'Driscoll, J Mitchell.

Women

Double Scull: L D'Urso, H Nixon. Single Sculls: L Dilleen. Lightweight Single Scull: C Lambe.

# ROWING: Isolda Penney, who beat Sanita Puspure in the semi-final, had an impressive win in the final of the Princess Royal at Henley Royal Regatta this morning. The 37-year-old Canadian took control early and extended a one-length lead at the Barrier to a margin of ‘easily’ by the finish.

The Canadian quadruple which beat the UCC/London Rowing Club crew in the Queen Mother led almost almost all the way down the course in their final, but were beaten by the National Rowing Centre of Excellence, Australia, who finished with a decisive push.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Five  (Irish interest)

Queen Mother (Quadruple Scull, Open): National Rowing Centre of Excellence, Australia bt Victoria City RC, Canada ½ l, 7:10

Princess Royal (Single Sculls, Women, Open) – Final: I Penney (Canada) bt K Pajusalu (Estonia) easily, 9:47.

# ROWING: Sanita Puspure was beaten in the semi-final of the Princess Royal at Henley Royal Regatta this evening. The woman who will represent Ireland in rowing at London 2012 fought out a close duel with Isolda Penney of Canada, who was behind until the middle of the race. The Canadian, in the preferable Berks station, pushed into the lead and held off Puspure to eventually win by two lengths.

Penney’s victory was a surprise, but the 37-year-old, who holds joint US/Canadian citizenship, is a serious competitor. She was third in the US trial held before the Olympic Qualifier in Lucerne this year. The trial was won by Genevra Stone, who went on to finish third at the Qualifier, one place ahead of Puspure.

Kaisa Pajusalu of Estonia, who lost out in that Olympic Qualifier (she finished sixth in the Final)  won  the other semi-final of the Princess Royal after a good race with Laura Schiavone of Italy.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Four (Irish interest):

Queen Mother (Quadruple Sculls, Open): Victoria City Rowing Club, Canada bt UCC/London RC (N Kenny, A English, H Pelly, M O’Donovan) 1¾ l, 7:24

Princess Royal (Single Sculls, Women, Open): I Penney (Canada) bt S Puspure (Ireland) 2l, 9:57

K Pajusalu (Estonia) bt L Schiavone (Italy) easily 10:03

# ROWING: A tremendous performance by a crew including three lightweights won lots of praise but was not enough to see the UCC/London Rowing Club progress in the Queen Mother for open quadruple sculls at Henley Royal Regatta this morning. The headwind conditions did not suit the crew of Rowing Ireland lightweights Niall Kenny, Anthony English, Mark O’Donovan and English heavyweigt Henry Pelly, but they got off to a great start and headed Canadian opponents Victoria City. Even when passed, the men in green came back at their bigger rivals and drew level.The Canadian crew then establised a lead but could not break away until a push in the last 10 to 15 strokes which saw them win by one and three-quarter lengths.

Victoria City were surpise winners on Friday against Danmarks Rocenter, a selected (seeded) crew.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Four (Irish interest):

Queen Mother (Quadruple Sculls, Open): Victoria City Rowing Club, Canada bt UCC/London RC (N Kenny, A English, H Pelly, M O’Donovan) 1¾ l, 7:24

# ROWING: Queen’s bowed out of Henley Royal Regatta yesterday after a very good race in the Visitors’ Cup with Durham University. The Queen’s four started well, but the bigger Durham crew headed them and won by three lengths.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Three (Irish interest)

Princess Royal (Single Sculls, Women, Open): S Puspure (Old Collegians) bt P Whittaker (Nottingham) easily, 10.31

The Double Sculls (Open): SH Whelpley and WS Cowles bt A Boreman (Belfast Boat Club) and C Beck (RBAI) easily, 8:45.

Visitors’ Cup (Fours, Intermediate): Durham University bt Queen’s University 3l, 8:03.

# ROWING: John Keohane slugged it out with the heavier Luke Moon in the Diamond Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta today but finished second, a length off the Tideway Scullers’ man. Keohane was slower off the start, but he drew level in the middle stages and even edged in front. Moon eventually took and held the lead, but he slowed in front of the enclosures and Keohane tightened the final margin.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Two (Irish interest)

Diamond Sculls (Single Sculls, Open): R Lopez (El Salvador) bt C Williamson (Queen’s University) easily, 9:00; L Moon (Tideway Scullers’ School) bt J Keohane (Lee Valley) 1l, 9:30

Visitors’ Cup (Fours, Intermediate): Queen’s University bt Nottingham University B easily, 8:14; Durham University bt Oxford University and Isis BC 4 ¼ l, 7:55

Wyfold Cup (Fours, Club): Rob Roy bt Cork BC 4¼ l, 7:53

# ROWING: Queen’s University won their first round of the Visitors’ Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in impressive style. The Belfast crew had Nottingham B beaten within a few hundred metres of the start thanks to precise, powerful rowing. They will face surprise packets Durham University tomorrow. Durham beat selected (seeded) crew Oxford University and Isis with plenty to spare.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Two (Irish interest)

Diamond Sculls (Single Sculls, Open): R Lopez (El Salvador) bt C Williamson (Queen’s University) easily, 9:00

Visitors’ Cup (Fours, Intermediate): Queen’s University bt Nottingham University B easily, 8:14. Durham University bt Oxford University and Isis BC 4 ¼ l, 7:55

Wyfold Cup (Fours, Club): Rob Roy bt Cork BC 4¼ l, 7:53