Day 1 of the 2025 European Rowing U19 Championships in Kruszwica, Poland saw fast-paced, high-quality performances from Ireland’s U19 athletes. All five crews have progressed through to finals, showcasing both talent and determination on the international stage.
JW2- | Cloda Phillips & Aida Hehir
First up this morning, Cloda Phillips and Aida Hehir got Ireland’s campaign underway in the Women’s Pair. The duo finished 3rd in their heat with a time of 7:57.38, just behind Italy, with Lithuania taking the win. Their result sees them through to the B Final where they will line up in Lane 3 at 8:40am IST tomorrow.
JM2x | Jonah Kirby & Jack Rafferty
Jonah Kirby and Jack Rafferty made a strong statement in the Men’s Double Sculls, finishing 2nd in their heat with a time of 6:34.82, securing a direct route to the semi-finals. There, they delivered another outstanding race, finishing in 6:38.04 to book their place in the A Final. They will race in Lane 5 at 12:54pm IST on Sunday. An excellent campaign so far for this promising duo!
JW2x | Sophia Young & Aoife Hendy
The Women’s Double of Sophia Young and Aoife Hendy also impressed in the morning heats, finishing 2nd in a competitive field with a time of 7:35.41, earning direct qualification to the semi-finals. They rose to the challenge again, finishing 3rd in their semi-final with a faster time of 7:24.39, just behind Greece and Hungary. This puts them into tomorrow’s A Final, racing in Lane 1 at 1:20pm IST. A superb effort across both races.
JM4- | Paul Schofield, Richard Heaslip, Tommy Little & Daniel Crozier
The Men’s Coxless Four delivered one of Ireland’s top performances of the day, winning their heat in 6:26.48 and qualifying straight into the A Final. They will race again tomorrow in Lane 3 at 11:36am IST, aiming for a podium finish. A powerful and composed performance from a highly talented crew.
JM4x | Evan O’Byrne, Bill Murphy, Mattias Cogan & Harry McCarthy
In what was likely the fastest heat of the day, the Men’s Quad placed 5th with an impressive time of 6:19.46, which was enough to progress to the semi-finals. There, they posted another strong time of 6:19.19, narrowly missing out on an A Final place but earning a well-deserved spot in the B Final. They will race in Lane 3 at 10:15am IST on Sunday. Consistency and determination have defined this crew’s performance so far.
