Displaying items by tag: Ireland Team

16th July 2019

Home International Team Chosen From Twenty-Five Clubs

#Rowing: Ireland will be represented by a team from 25 clubs at the Home International Regatta on Saturday, July 27^th, at Strathclyde Park in Glasgow. The junior women’s team includes Holly Davis (14), the new junior single sculls champion of Ireland.

Home International Team (July 27^th, Strathclyde, Glasgow)

Men, Senior

Sweep

J McAnallen, T O’Reilly, Pres, Cork; W Ronayne, S O’Neill, Shandon; A Kelly, J Ronaldson, UCD; S Bolger, E Jarvis, UCD; R Heaney, C Conway, NUIG; S O’Brien, F Dolphin, Waterford (Lwt); Cox: J Russell, NUIG.

Sculling

D Breen, UCC; A Christie, Bann; C Mulready, Castleconnell; H Moore, Queen’s; C Scanlon, UCD; L Sutton, New Ross.

Women, Senior

Sweep

S O’Donnell, C O’Brien, NUIG, Univ of Limerick; K Shirlow, L Murphy, Bann, NUIG; L Colclough, L McCarthy, Commercial; M Sullivan, Z Hyde, Killorglin; A Mooney, S Mannion, NUIG; Cox: C O’Connell, UCC.

Sculling

G O’Brien, Kenmare; E Buckely, UCC; E Crowley, Kenmare; J Legreasley, Shandon, Lwt; K Egan, Carlow, Lwt; E Brogan, Queen’s, Lwt; K O’Brien, UCD, Para.

Men, Junior

Sweep

A Murphy, Shandon; K O’Donovan, Shandon; T Hume, Col Iognaid; S Reidy, Col Iognaid; M Cronin, Cork; Paul Beechinor, Cork; C Feely, C’Connell; C Nolan, C’connell; R O’Gorman, St Michael’s; D Hartney, St Michael’s; cox: P Tannian, Col Iognaid.

Sculling

C Brennan, R Brennan, Neptune; B Kennell-Webb, New Ross; T McKnight, A Keogh, Three Castles; D Kelly, Lee; T Orlic, Neptune.

Women, Junior

Sweep

E Carney Frazier, E Forde, Col Iognaid; J Harrington, J Forde, Shandon; E Loftus, K Vandlik, Commercial; M O’Byrne, E Murphy, St Michael’s; E Zakarauskaite, M Quinn, Galway; Cox: CR O’Gorman, St Michael’s.

Sculling

H Davis, Lee Valley; H Gahan, Cork; L Crowley, Fermoy; A Moloney, Commercial; E Benson, St Michael’s; P Mullin, Belfast; M Kidney, Lee.

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6th August 2018

Ireland Name Big Team for World Rowing Championships

Paul and Gary O'Donovan with their European silver medals at Strathclyde Park

#Rowing: Seven Ireland crews have been chosen for the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from September 9^th to 16^th. There are four women’s crews, headed by Sanita Puspure in a single scull. Aifric Keogh and Emily Hegarty will compete in a pair and Monika Dukarska and Aileen Crowley in a double. The lightweight double of Aoife Casey and Denise Walsh, which competed at the European Championships, go forward.

European silver medallists Paul and Gary O’Donovan will compete in Bulgaria, while there is a heavyweight double of Ronan Byrne and Philip Doyle, which will be competing together at this level for the first time. The heavyweight pair of Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll which finished 11^th at the European Championships will compete in Plovdiv.

Another crew may be added to the team this week.

Ireland Team for World Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, September 9^th to 16^th:

Men

Pair: M O’Donovan, S O’Driscoll

Double Sculls: Ronan Byrne, Philip Doyle

Lightweight Double Sculls: Gary O’Donovan, Paul O’Donovan

Women

Pair: Aifric Keogh, Emily Hegarty

Double Sculls: Monika Dukarska, Aileen Crowley

Lightweight Double Sculls: Aoife Casey, Denise Walsh

Single Sculls: Sanita Puspure

Other crews may be added

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22nd May 2018

Ireland Rowing Team Chosen

The new Ireland lightweight double of Denise Walsh (Skibbereen) and Margaret Cremen (Lee) proving themselves at the Ireland trial.

#Rowing: The team which will represent Ireland at the World Cup in Belgrade (June 1^st to 3^rd) has been chosen. The selection was made after trials at the National Rowing Centre in Cork last weekend.

Belgrade is the first in a series of three World Cup regattas which culminate in the final World Cup in Lucerne from July 13^th to 15^th. This year, Rowing Ireland plans to send athletes to Belgrade and Lucerne.

In addition to the senior team competing in Belgrade, a training squad of athletes to be based at the National Rowing Centre in Cork has been announced.

Six rowers have also been selected to train for the Junior World Championships.

Ireland Team for World Cup Regatta, Belgrade, June 1^st to 3^rd:

Men

Pair: Mark O’Donovan, Shane O’Driscoll

Lightweight Double Sculls: Gary O’Donovan, Paul O’Donovan

Women

Pair: Emily Hegarty, Aifric Keogh

Double Sculls: Monika Dukarska, Aileen Crowley

Lightweight Double Sculls: Denise Walsh, Margaret Cremen

Single Scull – Sanita Puspure

Training Group to be based at National Rowing Centre:

Heavyweight Men: Andy Harrington, Patrick Boomer, Philip Doyle, Ronan Byrne.

Heavyweight Women: Tara Hanlon, Natalie Long.

Pre-Selected Rowers who will train for the Junior World Championships:

Men’s Quadruple: Jack Keating, Jack Dorney, Alex Byrne, Luke Nally-Hayes.

Women’s Double Scull: Ciara Moynihan and Ciara Browne.

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6th October 2017

Ireland Team the Afloat Rowers of the Month for September

The Ireland team and mentors which travelled to Florida.

#Rowing: The Ireland team which brought the country glory at the World Rowing Championships in Florida are the Afloat Rowers of the Month for September. In that month, Ireland took two gold medals through Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll in the lightweight pair and Paul O’Donovan in the lightweight single sculls.

The pair crowned the perfect season with their victory. They won gold at the three World Cup regattas and the European Championships. The pressure was on in World Championship final, with both Brazil and Italy rowing well on the day. But O’Donovan and O’Driscoll were peerless. They set a very high stroke rate, took the lead – and saw off their challengers.

Paul O’Donovan retained the title he had taken with such an extraordinary set of performances in Rotterdam in 2016, just weeks after he had taken a silver at the Olympic Games in a lightweight double with his brother Gary. This time, Gary had to drop out of the lightweight double, as illness had restricted his training (he supported the team as a reserve). Paul was back in the lightweight single in a boat which was new to him. He won all four races (heat, quarter-final, semi-final and final), seeing off a new set of challengers in the lightweight single, including Matthew Dunham of New Zealand, who took silver, and Kris Brun of Norway (bronze).

The rest of the Ireland team also gave the suppporters plenty to shout about. Sanita Puspure went on to take fourth in the single sculls and Denise Walsh reached the A Final of the lightweight single sculls, where she finished sixth. Two new heavyweight pairs gained experience of the top level as the team targets Tokyo 2020. Aileen Crowley and Aifric Keogh finished eighth and there was a 16^th place for Patrick Boomer and Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan.

Well done to all the members of the Ireland team, the Afloat Rowers of the Month for September.

Rower of the Month awards: The judging panel is made up of Liam Gorman, rowing correspondent of The Irish Times, and David O'Brien, editor of Afloat magazine. Monthly awards for achievements during the year will appear on afloat.ie. Keep a monthly eye on progress and watch our 2017 champions list grow.

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29th March 2016

Ireland Send Seven Crews to First World Cup Regatta

Claire Lambe is in the Ireland team for World Cup Regatta.

#Rowing: The Ireland team for the first World Cup regatta, in Varese in Italy from April 15^th to 17^th, will feature seven crews. The Olympic-bound lightweight double sculls of Sinéad Jennings and Claire Lambe and Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan will be joined by the three boats which hope to find their way to Rio through the qualifiers in May – the lightweight men’s four, the women’s pair and single sculler Sanita Puspure – and by Siobhán McCrohan and Denise Walsh in lightweight single sculls. McCrohan and Walsh were to trial for a single spot, but the trial was twice postponed and both will now travel.

Pararower Karol Doherty will go out with the bulk of the team on April 12^th, and will compete in the Paralympic Qualifier in Gavirate in Italy on April 20^th to 23^rd.

Ireland Team for World Cup, Varese, Italy, April 15^th to 17^th

Men

Lightweight Four: L Seaman, M O’Donovan, L Keane, S O’Driscoll. Lightweight Double Scull: P O’Donovan, G O’Donovan.

Women

Pair: L Kennedy, B O’Brien. Lightweight Double Scull: C Lambe, S Jennings. Single Scull: S Puspure. Lightweight Single Scull: S McCrohan, D Walsh.

Crew for Paralympic Qualification Regatta, Gavirate, Italy, April 20th-23^rd: K Doherty (Arms and Shoulders men’s single scull).

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About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth