Rowing - Coupe de la Jeunesse Results
14 athletes together with their three coaches travelled to Poznan, Poland on Thursday 28th July. Hopes were high for these top juniors who had qualified through the junior trial process after selection at Cork regatta. The crew enjoyed training on this exceptional World Championship course on Thursday and Friday but nerves were high on Saturday for this group of young athletes at their first international rowing event.
On Saturday 30th July, the day’s racing started with the junior men’s four coming forth in their heat and missing out on the A final by less than a second. The junior men’s quadruple came fifth in their heat and also went into the B Final. The junior women’s quadruple raced first in the fastest heat. The junior women’s pair raced the last heat of the morning and came in second to Italy and straight into the A final.
The afternoon started with the men’s four coming in 8th and the men’s quadruple coming in 10th. Hopes were building for a medal in the women’s races. The women’s quadruple produced a cracker of a race and finished fifth in a photo finish with only one second between second to fifth crews. A disappointing result in a well fought out race. All hopes were on Cork girls Amy Mason and Tara Hanlon but luck was not on their side and the Cork Boat club girls came in fifth.
But spirits were high in the Irish camp on Saturday evening and the crews were determined on Sunday morning to produce a better result. The junior men’s four came in 8th with a much better time overall as did the quadruple who came in ninth. The junior women’s quad were up next. After a fast start by Italy, the Irish crew pulled into third place behind Britain and Switzerland and took a well-deserved bronze medal. The last race for the Irish was the women’s pair and all hopes lay with the Cork girls for a final medal. They were in second place behind GB after the start and the Cork pair held this position all the way, putting in a brave fight to try to covet that gold medal. They achieved a well-deserved silver medal, with GB only edging forward by 1.8 seconds ahead of the Belgians in third place. A fantastic achievement by these youngsters.
With four boats going to the Coupe de la Jeunesse and two medals coming home this was a great result overall.
“The aim of the Coupe is to give our young athletes an opportunity to compete at a two day regatta overseas against the force of such strong rowing nations as Italy and Great Britain. Our Irish team lived up to the challenge at the weekend, getting out there and racing on Saturday, then brushing off those nerves on Sunday and challenging these countries to medals and podium places that this young Irish team well-deserved. We are exceptionally proud of what these youngsters have achieved in their first International experience and hope they will take this experience forward as our present Olympians have.” Michelle Carpenter, Team Manager
Saturday RESULTS;
Men
M4- : Heat One (First Three to A Final; remainder to B Final): 4 Ireland 6:34.59. B Final: 2 Ireland 6:33.78.
M4X : Heat Two (First Three to A Final; remainder to B Final): 5 Ireland 6:35.70. B Final: 4 Ireland 6:24.39.
Women
W4X : Heat Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Britain 6:49.66, 2 Ireland 6:54.22.
Final A: 1. ITA 6:41:56 2. SUI 2. 6.46.17 3. HUN 6.46.23 4. GB 6.46.92 5 Ireland 6:47.32.
W2– : Heat Two – 2 Ireland
Final A: 5 Ireland 7:43.76.
Sunday RESULTS;
Men
4- : Final B: 2 Ireland 6:52.17.
4X: Final B: 4 Ireland 6:35.36.
Women
W4X Final A: 1 Switzerland 6:54.88, 2 Britain 6:56.01, 3 Ireland 6:58.11.
W2- Final A: 1 Britain 7:41.82, 2 Ireland 7:43.34, 3 Belgium 7:48.62.