ROWING Irish Rowers at Eton Update

Heavyweight four impress to make World Cup final

 Ireland’s heavyweight men’s four (M4-) powered to second place in their repechage this morning to secure their place in the televised final tomorrow just before 1pm. Cormac Folan, Sean Jacob, Sean Casey and Alan Martin face stiff competition tomorrow in a race where the British crew, led by Athens Olympic gold medallist Steve Williams will be fancied to take gold in front of their home crowd.

In the other Irish boats Sinéad Jennings was unlucky to finish just outside the necessary qualification standard for the final of the lightweight women’s single scull (LW1x). She advances to the ‘B’ final where she will be hoping to avenge the semi-final disappointment, while Siobhan Jacob in the second boat failed to progress from her repechage and will contest the ‘C’ final.
 
The heavyweight men’s pair of Marc Stephens and John Forde (M2-), a new addition to the Irish squad this year, contest the ‘B’ final at 9.10am tomorrow following their sixth place finish in their semi-final this morning.

New pairing of Heather Boyle and Niamh NiCheilleachair will also hope to finish in the top end of the lightweight double sculls ‘B’ final (LW2x) tomorrow. The duo finished sixth in their semi-final this morning but will have found this first International outing together a valuable learning experience.

The two lightweight men’s crews (LM4-) were particularly unlucky to be drawn in the same repechage this morning, and both failed to advance to tomorrow’s final, the premier crew led by Athens Olympian Eugene Coakley finishing 4th, with the second Irish crew four seconds behind in fifth, only the top two advanced to the final. These formations are sure to alter before we see them in action at the second leg of the World Cup in Munich next month, as coach Harald Jahrling tries to discover the best combination for the World Championship in late August.
Ends.
Issued on behalf of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union

For Further Information: 
Sinéad McElroy, Irish Sports Council 01-8608804, 087-6338512 or smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie

Additional Information:
Sinéad McElroy of the Irish Sports Council will act as media liaison officer to the Irish team for the World Cup series and the 2005 World Championships in September and can be contacted for results / interviews on 01-8608804 / 087-6338512 or smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie

TV Coverage BBCl, Sat 28th, 12.15-2pm
For live results and competition schedules visit www.worldrowing.com

KEY DATES
Bearing Point Rowing World Cup
World Cup 1 Eton, UK 26th – 28th May
Sat 28th Finals start at 10.15am
World Cup 2, Munich, Germany 17th – 19th June
World Cup 3, Lucerne, Switzerland 8th – 10th July

2005 ROWING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, GIFU, JAPAN 28th Aug-4th Sept.