O'Donovan and Nixon progress to next round at World Junior Rowing Championships

05 Aug 2011


Skibbereen's Paul O'Donovan and Portora's Holly Nixon have both won progressed to the next round at the World Rowing Junior Championships at Dorney Lake, England today.


O'Donovan beat off the challenge from Latvia, Belarus, Tunisia and Georgia to come first in the men's junior single scull to qualify for the quarter-finals. He will compete against Russia, Japan, Greece, South Africa and China at midday tomorrow.


Fermanagh's Holly Dixon also came first in her heat in the women's junior single scull against Switzerland, Belgium, Slovenia and Venezuela. She clocked the fastest time of all quarter final races. Dixon will join Japan, China, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, Denmark, Bulgaria and two other boats (who will race in Fridays's repechage) in the A/B semi-final on Saturday.


Men - Junior Single Scull - Heat Three (first four directly to quarter-finals): 1 Ireland (P O'Donovan) 7:55.25, 2 Latvia 7:59.08, 3 Belarus 7:59.81, 4 Tunisia 8:03.74; 5 Georgia 8:41.14.


Women - Junior Single Scull - Heat Two (first two directly to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechage): 1 Ireland (H Nixon) 8:45.23, 2 Switzerland (J Jeannet) 8:55.51; 3 Belgium 9:04.72, 4 Slovenia 9:04.80, 5 Venezeula 10:06.41.