# ROWING WORLD CUP: Ireland’s Claire Lambe finished fifth and Paul O’Donovan sixth in their lightweight single sculls finals this morning at the World Cup regatta at Dorney Lake. In a fast race, O’Donovan stayed in contention for bronze until the closing stages: Pedro Fraga of Portugal won, with Steffen Jensen second. His fellow Dane Andrej Bendtsen made a late charge to deny Duncan Grant of New Zealand bronze.

Lambe’s race belonged to Michaela Taupe-Traer (38). The experienced Austrian took gold ahead of Leonie Pless of Germany, with Brazil’s Fabiana Beltrame making heavy weather of taking bronze despite having the favoured lane six. The lanes had been reallocated because of winds. Lambe and Ruth Walczak of Britain had disputed third with Beltrame through the middle stages of the race.

World Cup Regatta, Dorney Lake, Day Three (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Single Sculls – A Final: 1 Portugal (P Fraga) 6:57.02, 2 Denmark One (S Jensen) 6:59.80, 3 Denmark Two (A Bendtsen) 7:00.24; 4 New Zealand 7:00.69, 5 Germany Two 7:04.66, 6 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:06.69.

Women

Lightweight Single Sculls – A Final: 1 Austria (M Taupe-Traer) 7:36.62, 2 Germany (L Pless) 7:44.98, 3 Brazil (F Beltrame) 7:46.46; 4 Britain 7:47.40, 5 Ireland (C Lambe) 7:55.06, 6 Hong Kong 7:58.78.

# ROWING WORLD CUP: Paul O’Donovan continued his remarkable run at the World Cup regatta at Dorney Lake when he finished second in his Semi-Final of the lightweight single sculls this morning and qualified for tomorrow’s A Final.

The 19-year-old UCD scholarship student did not have a very fast start – that fell to Pedro Fraga of Portugal, who blasted away from the field, led all the way and won well. O’Donovan and Andrej Bendtsen of Denmark fought it out for second, with the young Irishman winning the battle before the line.

Ireland’s Katie O’Brien and Keith Connolly finished sixth in the Trunk and Arms mixed double sculls and Tom Kelly was second in the B Final of the Arms and Shoulders single sculls.

World Cup Regatta, Dorney Lake, Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Single Sculls – A/B Semi-Final One (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Portugal (P Fraga) 7:21.43, 2 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:24.38, 3 Denmark Two (A Bendtsen) 7:25.66; 4 United States 7:36.40, 5 Denmark Three 8:06.62; Brazil did not start.

Trunk and Arms Mixed Double Sculls – A Final: 6 Ireland (K O’Brien, K Connolly) 5:18.84.

Arms and Shoulders Single Sculls – B Final (Places 7 and 8): 2 Ireland (T Kelly) 7:19.08.

# ROWING WORLD CUP: Claire Lambe in the lightweight single sculls and the double scull of Leonora Kennedy and Monika Dukarska both won their repechages to progress to A Finals at the World Cup regatta at Dorney Lake today.

Lambe had missed out on direct qualification through her heat when finishing third, but she made certain of an A Final place by leading from the early stages in her second-chance race. Ka Man Lee from Hong Kong was the only serious test for Lambe. She finished second and also qualified for the final.

The double had a very satisfying victory in only their second race as a crew. They were pressed at the end by Finland, but led through all four quarters.

World Cup Regatta, Dorney Lake, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Single Sculls - Heat Two (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:13.89, 2 New Zealand (D Grant) 7:17.37; 3 Hong Kong 7:27.67, 4 Korea 7:28.71, 5 Brazil Two 7:30.92, 6 Japan 7:32.49.

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat One: 1 Britain (R Chambers, P Chambers) 6:29.86.

Single Sculls – Heat Three: Britain (A Campbell) 7:07.03.

Arms and Shoulders Single Sculls – Heat One (First Directly to Final; rest to Repechage): 4 Ireland (T Kelly) 6:31.23.

Women

Double Sculls – Heat Two (First Two Directly to A Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Britain (F Houghton, V Meyer-Laker) 6:59.96, 2 China Two (D Xu, F Pan) 7:03.91; 3 Ireland (M Dukarska, L Kennedy) 7:15.68, 4 Korea 7:18.48. Repechage (Two to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Ireland 7:12.18, 2 Finland 7:12.92; 3 China Three 7:16.23, 4 Korea 7:18.27, 5 China One 7:32.84.

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat Two (First Two Directly to A Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Brazil (F Beltrame) 7:54.85, 2 Britain (R Walczak) 7:59.13; 3 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:07.80, 4 Paraguay 8:29.68, 5 Hong Kong 8:34.62. Repechage (Two to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Ireland (Lambe) 8:05.22, 2 Hong Kong One 8:07.29; 3 Paraguay 8:18.51, 4 Austria Two 8:23.09, 5 Singapore 8:28.71, 6 Hong Kong 8:35.40.

# ROWING WORLD CUP: Ireland’s new double scull of Leonora Kennedy and Monika Dukarska finished third in their heat, one place away from direct qualification for the A Final at the World Cup regatta at Dorney Lake today. Britain won the heat well, and China’s second crew kept Ireland at bay for the second spot. Ireland are set for a repechage this afternoon.

World Cup Regatta, Dorney Lake, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Single Sculls - Heat Two (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:13.89, 2 New Zealand (D Grant) 7:17.37; 3 Hong Kong 7:27.67, 4 Korea 7:28.71, 5 Brazil Two 7:30.92, 6 Japan 7:32.49.

Arms and Shoulders Single Sculls – Heat One (First Directly to Final; rest to Repechage): 4 Ireland (T Kelly) 6:31.23.

Women

Double Sculls – Heat Two (First Two Directly to A Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Britain (F Houghton, V Meyer-Laker) 6:59.96, 2 China Two (D Xu, F Pan) 7:03.91; 3 Ireland (M Dukarska, L Kennedy) 7:15.68, 4 Korea 7:18.48.

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat Two (First Two Directly to A Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Brazil (F Beltrame) 7:54.85, 2 Britain (R Walczak) 7:59.13; 3 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:07.80, 4 Paraguay 8:29.68, 5 Hong Kong 8:34.62.

# ROWING WORLD CUP: Paul O’Donovan gave Ireland lift-off at the World Cup Regatta at Dorney Lake this morning. The 19-year-old UCD student, making his World Cup debut, won his heat of the lightweight single sculls to qualify directly for the Semi-Finals. Duncan Grant of New Zealand, the red-hot favourite, took the second qualification place.

Claire Lambe will have to travel the repechage route after a third-place finish in her heat of the lightweight single sculls. With Fabiane Beltrame of Brazil winning well, direct qualification for the A Final rested on taking the second place. Ruth Walczak of Britain grabbed her chance.

Tom Kelly finished fourth in the heat of the Arms and Shoulders single sculls.

World Cup Regatta, Dorney Lake, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Single Sculls - Heat Two (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:13.89, 2 New Zealand (D Grant) 7:17.37; 3 Hong Kong 7:27.67, 4 Korea 7:28.71, 5 Brazil Two 7:30.92, 6 Japan 7:32.49.

Arms and Shoulders Single Sculls – Heat One (First Directly to Final; rest to Repechage): 4 Ireland (T Kelly) 6:31.23.

Women

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat Two (First Two Directly to A Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Brazil (F Beltrame) 7:54.85, 2 Britain (R Walczak) 7:59.13; 3 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:07.80, 4 Paraguay 8:29.68, 5 Hong Kong 8:34.62.

# ROWING: Rowing Ireland has announced the appointment of Gordon Reid as a full time Belfast-based Club and Coach Development Officer.

Reid will be responsible for leading the development and improvement of the Rowing Ireland club development system within Northern Ireland, including delivery of a range of services to support clubs and coaches.

This is a new position and will add to the Coach Education and Club Development work already being done by Pat McInerney, Coach Education Officer.

Reid has been a director of Rowing Ireland, and a board member of the Ulster Branch.

“I am delighted to accept this position with its focus on working with clubs and coaches, and I look forward to helping them to develop skills, systems and to achieve results,” he said.

Hamish Adams, the chief executive of Rowing Ireland, said: “We are delighted to appoint someone of Gordon’s calibre to this extremely important role. Gordon’s administration and practical experience will be an asset to not only the Northern Ireland Club’s but rowing in general.”

Skerries Rowing Club is marching its new coastal rowing skiff down South Strand, Skerries this Saturday afternoon before launching and naming the new clinker built boat at the Slip on Harbour Road, (opposite the sailing club) in Skerries, North Dublin.

The club is also taking the opportunity on Saturday to thank master boat builder Martin O'Toole and Ciaran 'Chopper' McCarthy, a cabinet maker, for their dedication and skill in building what the club claims will be a 'super fast' rowing craft.

#coastalrowing – Billed as the world's toughest rowing race, GBRow 2013 lived up to its reputation when three boats – half of the field – were forced to quit in a spell of just 12 hours today.

At 2am, the Coast Girls - Charlene Ayres and Sally Kettle – were towed by the RNLI to Ramsgate harbour in Kent after both their anchors dragged on the sandy bottom.

There was a danger they could be swept on the breakers just 300 yards away. Charlene, from Cardiff, who suffered from sea sickness for more than three days was treated for dehydration at hospital in Ramsgate. She was released from hospital later this morning.

After breakfast she and Sally booked into a local hotel to sleep after their ordeal.

At 10am Brixham Coastguard scrambled Salcombe RNLI lifeboat crew to go the assistance of Pure Gym's crew, who were adrift a mile off Start Point in Devon in force six winds. The boat's electrical system, which controls navigation instruments, communications and the water maker, totally failed.

The crew of two men and two women battled for 12 hours to repair the fault but when strong force six easterly winds threatened to blow the boat onto the rocks at Start Point, skipper Claire Shouksmith called for assistance, using the boat's Sat phone.

Then at 2pm Team Hallin's skipper, Falklands veteran, former Royal Navy Commander David Hosking, called in help from a motor boat from Penzance after their ocean-going rowing boat Hallin Marine II suffered irreparable damage to the steering system.

Without a rudder, the crew risked drifting into shipping lanes or the rocks beneath the cliffs at Land's End.
Chris Usborne, Race Director, said: "With three boats retiring today, GBRow has had a very bad day, however everyone is safe and safety is paramount to this race."

In the race itself, The Islanders remain in front but Oarsome Adventures are chasing them down in the Celtic Sea, off Cornwall.

The Islanders in Black Oyster are 30 miles out to sea from Padstowe, with Oarsome Adventures just 11 miles behind them.

# ROWING: UCD edged out their great rivals, Grainne Mhaol/NUIG, by just over half a second in the Elite Eights at London Metropolitan Regatta at Dorney Lake today – albeit to take fourth place in a race won by Oxford Brookes. UCD got in front and held off a late charge by the Galway composite to come home in five minutes 51.24 seconds to Grainne Mhaol/NUIG’s 5:51.82. The winners, Oxford Brookes, set a time of five minutes 41.84 seconds. Patrick Moore of UCD and Sheila Clavin of St Michael’s had wins in single sculling events.

Metropolitan Regatta, Dorney Lake (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Saturday

Men

Eights – Elite: 4 Grainne Mhaol/NUIG 5:52.85. Intermediate Two: 3 NUIG 6:05.54.

Fours – Elite: 5 UCD 6:15.54. Senior, coxed: 3 UCD 6:32.88.

Women

Eights – Intermediate One: 1 UCD 6:47.66; 3 Trinity 6:52.73.

Fours – Intermediate Three, coxed: Commercial 7:40.66.

Pairs – Intermediate One: 2 Commercial 8:06.90.

Sculling, Double – Intermediate One: 3 Trinity 7:29.65.

Sunday

Men

Eights – Elite: 4 UCD 5:51.24, 5 Grainne Mhaol/NUIG 5:51.82. Senior: 3 Grainne Mhaol/NUIG 5:59.65. Intermediate One: 4 UCD 6:11.11.

Fours – Elite: UCD 6:20.51. Senior: 3 St Michael’s 6:29.01. Intermediate One, coxed: 4 NUIG 6:50.69. Inter Two, coxed: 4 NUIG 6:48.39. Inter Three, coxed: NUIG 7:04.92.

Sculling, Single – Intermediate One: 1 UCD (P Moore) 7:24.01.

Women

Eights – Senior: 3 UCD 6:49.36. Intermediate One: 2 Trinity 6:45.66. Inter Two: 3 UCD 7:03.78.

Fours – Senior: 4 UCD 7:13.56. Inter Three, coxed: 1 Commercial 7:49.44.

Pairs – Inter One: 3 Commercial 8:06.79.

Sculling, Double – Inter One: 2 Trinity 7:35.63. Single – Senior: 1 St Michael’s (S Clavin) 8:07.18. Inter Three: 3 Commercial (G Foley) 8:43.10.

# ROWING: Ireland’s Claire Lambe finished fourth in the A Final of the lightweight single sculls at the European Rowing Championships in Seville this morning.

Raced into a strong headwind this was an interesting contest. At the head of the field Greek tyro Alkaterini Nikolaidou moved up alongside multi-medal winner Michaela Taupe-Traer in the middle stages of the race and then took off at 1500 metres to win gold, with the Austrian having to settle for silver. Lambe was fourth behind Marie-Anne Frenken of the Netherlands all down the course and could not make up the deficit in the final quarter to move into the medal places.

European Championships, Day Three (Irish interest)

Women

Lightweight Single Sculls – A Final: 1 Greece (A Nikolaidou) 8:32.92, 2 Austria (M Taupe-Traer) 8:36.59, 3 Netherlands (M-A Frenken) 8:39.14; 4 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:47.66, 5 Italy 8:50.74, 6 Cyprus 9:01.25.