Rowing Ireland Sends Team Of 14 Athlete's To World Championships

The Rowing Ireland squad for the World Rowing Championships Amsterdam Holland departed on Thursday evening for preparation and training in Amsterdam.

Seen as the most important rowing event of the year for High performance Athletes. This year's event has attracted record entries from 60 countries. Competition will be spread across 27 boat classes including 14 Olympic class events.

Sanita Puspure will race in the Women's single scull. Puspure holds a bronze medal from the European Championships this year. With a record number of entries and scullers from 29 countries Puspure will relish the challenge of a podium finish. Paul O'Donovan who recently came forth at the U-23 World Championships will compete in the Men's lightweight scull with a record breaking 29 other countries on the starting line.

Lisa Dineen and Leonora Kennedy who won in Italy earlier this year will compete with 15 other countries in the Women's pair. The Women's Double of Helen Walshe and Monika Dukarska are against 22 other nations. The Women's Four have a strong field of 10 to compete against. The Women's lightweight Double scull will compete against a mammoth 22 other crews and the men's lightweight pair have 17 others to contend with.

Upon their departure, The Chief Executive Officer of Rowing Ireland, Hamish Adams, said "We have high hopes for this team of 14 athletes. Our rigorous selection in 2014 has been designed to send only athletes capable of competing with the best in the world and we all have high expectations as we head to Amsterdam."

Three of the Irish Crew's will race on Sunday: Paul O'Donovan in the Men's Lightweight scull on Sunday afternoon at 13:00 local time. The Women's pair at 13:56 and Sanita Puspure in the Women's scull at 17:40.