Ireland’s Adaptive Four qualified directly for the A/B Semi-Finals at the World Rowing Championships with a good second-place finish in their heat this morning. The crew of Anne-Marie McDaid, Sarah Caffrey, Shane Ryan, Kevin du Toit and cox Helen Arbuthnot knew a place in the top two would suffice and they tracked pace-setters Britain down the 1,000 metres course and saw off a challenge from Brazil.

The Ireland crew are targeting a place in the top eight in this category, the Legs, Trunk and Arms mixed coxed four. This would qualify them for the Paralympic Games in London next year.

World Rowing Championships, Bled, Slovenia – Day Two (Irish interest)

Adaptive – Legs, Trunk and Arms Mixed Coxed Four – Heat One (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Final): 1 Britain 3:28.27, 2 Ireland (A-M McDaid, S Caffrey, S Ryan, K du Toit; cox: H Arbuthnot) 3:35.33; 3 Brazil 3:43.52, 4 Poland 3:49.13, 5 South Africa 4:03.41, 6 Belarus 4:24.31.