#Rowing: Paul O’Donovan saw off the challenge of Lars Wichert of Germany to win his quarter-final at the World Rowing Championships in Florida. The Skibbereen lightweight single sculler started well, stayed alongside Wichert in the middle stages, before pulling into a clear lead over the German by 1200 metres. From there he moved away. He won convincingly. Wichert and Lukas Radonic of Croatia took the remaining qualification places for the A/B Semi-Finals.
There was a major stroke of bad luck of Rajko Hrvat of Slovenia. He was leading the final quarter-final only to catch a crab while just a few hundred metres from the line. He capsized and his chances of contending for a medal ended.
Earlier, Sanita Puspure had won her repechage to move through to the A/B Semi-Finals of the women's single. The Ireland women's pair will compete in the B Final. They finished fourth in their repechage.
World Rowing Championships, Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida – Day Four – Irish Interest:
Men
Lightweight Single Sculls – Quarter Final Three (First Three to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): Ireland (P O’Donovan) 6:56.99, 2 Germany (L Wichert) 7:01.74, 3 Croatia (L Radonic) 7:04.54.
Women
Pair – Repechage (First Two to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Britain 7:25.99, 2 Germany 7:3.34; 4 Ireland (A Keogh, A Crowley) 7:41.13.
Single Sculls – Repechage One (First Two to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:36.16, 2 Czech Republic (L Zabova) 7:45.98.
