ROWING Irish Rowers World Cup Update from Eton

The 2005 International rowing season kicked off on the Dorney Lake in Eton today and seven Irish boats were in action. Donegal native Sinéad Jennings produced the best result for the Irish today finishing second in her heat of the Lightweight Women’s Scull (LW1x) therefore qualifying directly for the semi-final tomorrow morning. The remaining six boats will all race in their respective repechages later this evening and tomorrow morning. All crews who do not finish in the top end of their heats progress to the repechages which provide a second chance to advance to the semi-finals.

Siobhan Jacob finished fifth in the same heat as Sinéad meaning she must compete in the repechage later this evening and finish in the top two to make the semi-final. Marc Stephens and John Forde finished fourth in the first of three heats in the heavyweight men’s pair and race in their repechage this evening where they must finish in the top three to advance.

New pairing Heather Boyle and Niamh NiCheilleachair finished 5th in the third heat of the Lightweight Women’s Double Scull and must also finish in the top three of their repechage this evening to advance to tomorrow’s semi-final.

 The recently formed heavyweight four of Folan, Jacob, Casey and Martin came third in their heat behind Czech Republic and Polish crews in first and second respectively. The Irish quartet will race in their repechage at 11.30am tomorrow morning.

Finally, the two Irish lightweight men’s crews were up against eachother in the second of the lightweight men’s four heats. The top boat of Wallace, MacColgain and the two Coakley brothers finished third, just missing out on direct qualification for the semi-finals. The second boat of Devitt, Coleman, McDonald and O’Dowd came in fifth, both boats line up in the repechages tomorrow morning where they will be hopeful of progressing further.

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

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

Thurs 26th         Heats start 9.30am

Fri 27th             Semi-finals start at 9.30am

Sat 28th            Finals start at 10.15am

TV Coverage  BBC1 Northern Irl, Sat 28th, 12.15-2pm

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.