#ROWING: Paul O’Donovan gave Ireland a good start to the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam today. The UCD lightweight single sculler qualified directly for the quarter-finals by finishing third in a heat, with four going through. China’s Zhao Jingbin set the early pace and O’Donovan was in fifth to halfway. But the Chinese faded while O’Donovan grew stronger: the Irishman passed him and Lukas Babac of Slovakia in the second half of the race. Pedro Fraga of Portugal won, with Perry Ward of Australia second.

World Rowing Championships, Amsterdam (Selected Results; Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat Two (First Four Directly to Quarter-Finals; rest to Repechage): 1 Portugal (P Fraga) 6:53.62, Australia (P Ward) 6:54.96, 3 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 6:57.65,4 China (Jingbin Zhao) 7:03.13; 5 Slovakia 7:04.81, 6 Quatar 9:52.93.

#ROWING: The Ireland team for the World Rowing Championships has been named. A team of 14 athletes in seven boats have been selected for the event, which will be held in Amsterdam from August 24th to 31st.

Crews have been based at the National Rowing Centre, where they have been on training and undergoing extensive testing since the World Cup regattas at Aiguebelette in France and Lucerne in Switzerland.

Ireland Team for World Rowing Championships, Amsterdam, August 24th to 31st

Men:

Lightweight Pair: Niall Kenny (UCD BC), Mark O’Donovan (UCD BC)

Lightweight Single Scull (ML1x): Paul O’Donovan (UCD BC)

Women

Four: Barbara O’Brien (NUIG BC), Aifric Keogh (NUIG BC), Emily Tormey (NUIG BC) and Marie O’Neill (Cork BC)

Pair: Lisa Dilleen (Gráinne Mhaol RC) and Leonora Kennedy (Portora BC)

Double Scull: Monika Dukarska (Killorglin RC) and Helen Walshe (Three Castles RC)

Lightweight Double Scull: Denise Walsh (Skibbereen RC) and Claire Lambe (Old Collegians BC)

Single Scull: Sanita Puspure (Old Collegians BC)