#Rowing: Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan won a thrilling quarter-final of the lightweight double sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bugaria.
The Ireland crew were fourth at 500 metres and third behind New Zealand and Norway at half way. But the Skibbereen men produced a brilliant second half to pass both crews and win – beating New Zealand by just six-tenths of a second.
The lightweight quadruple of Fintan McCarthy, Ryan Ballantine, Jake McCarthy and Andrew Goff became the first Ireland crew to qualify for an A Final with a steady second place behind Turkey in their repechage.
Monika Dukarska and Aileen Crowley hoped to stay on course with a top three place in their repechage, but they could only finish fifth and go to C/D semi-finals.
Racing was later suspended.
World Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Day Four (Irish interest)
Men
Lightweight Quadruple Sculls – Repechage One (First Two to A Final): 1
Turkey 5:51.12, 2 Ireland (F McCarthy, R Ballantine, J McCarthy, A
Goff) 5:54.09
Lightweight Double Sculls – Quarter Final Three (First Three to A/B
Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P
O’Donovan) 6:44.44, 2 New Zealand 6:45.04, 3 Norway 6:46.70.
