Single sculler Orlagh Duddy wins bronze at Rowing World Cup

25th June 2007

SINGLE SCULLER ORLAGH DUDDY WINS BRONZE AT ROWING WORLD CUP

Irish quartet take fifth in heavyweight men’s four final

Ireland has won its first medal; bronze, at the Rowing World Cup this year thanks to a superb performance from the ever improving Orlagh Duddy in the non-Olympic lightweight single scull (LW1x). In the highly competitive final of the Olympic class men’s heavyweight four (M4-), the Irish crew of Alan Martin, Sean Casey, Cormac Folan and Sean O’Neill rowed well to place a pleasing fifth. The other Olympic class Irish boat in action; the women’s lightweight double of Sinéad Jennings and Niamh NiCheilleachair raced strongly to win their B final this morning, and with it finish 7th overall.

The twenty-seven year old Derry woman Duddy who only made her debut on the senior international stage three weeks ago, impressing by also reaching the A final then, was absolutely thrilled to medal here.

“It’s certainly a special feeling to reach the podium at the World Cup; I nearly can't believe it! It’s been a brilliant last few months for me; coming into the national set-up, getting to be a part of that and all it offers and it’s great to see the hard work is starting to pay off with this today”, remarked a beaming Duddy after the medal ceremony.

After the initial 500metres of the race, she lay fourth behind Danelia Reimer of Germany who raced in the Athens Olympics in the lightweight double. Duddy however rowed through the German number two to hold the bronze medal position until she crossed the line five seconds ahead of the Danish number two sculler, and four seconds back on gold medallist Van Eupen of The Netherlands, with the Austrian sculler in second.

In what was a thrilling men’s heavyweight four showdown the Irish were always in touch with the leaders, challenging the world’s best throughout the 2000metre test. The absence of world champions Great Britain did not weaken the field in Amsterdam as the New Zealanders made their first appearance of the season, claiming gold in the process, ahead of the fancied hosts; The Netherlands and the Czech Republic in bronze.

Irish team manager Mick O’Callaghan was pleased with how the quartet performed; “The four won the B final in Linz, so we’re quite pleased they’ve broken into the A final this weekend and were very competitive in it. They’re demonstrating the progress they’ve made over the last number of months where and when it matters, and that's encouraging to see.”

The lightweight double (LW2x) of Sinéad Jennings and Niamh NiCheilleachair put in that improved performance they were seeking after the disappointment of yesterday’s semi-final by winning this morning’s B final. The Irish duo were lying fourth after the opening quarter but then pulled through the field to lead at the halfway mark and were never headed from there despite a major challenge from the third choice Chinese crew over the last quarter.

Orla Hayes of Skibbereen (LW1x) and Galway’s Liam Molloy (LM2x) were also racing in the lightweight single scull B finals. Hayes took second behind the British sculler, and Molloy third after the second choice Hong Kong and French representatives. Both performances see these scullers inside the top nine at this World Cup regatta; satisfying for all concerned as they build towards the under 23 World Championships in Scotland in a little over a month.

Looking back on this weekend’s regatta team manager Mick O’Callaghan said; “Things went well today, our athletes all performed strongly, and when you look at it each of them today has finished inside the top ten in the World.”

Next up for the Irish is the final leg of this year’s Rowing World Cup three weeks from now in Lucerne, typically the last chance to test the field before August’s crucial World Championships.

Ends.

Issued on behalf of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union by the Irish Sports Council

For Further Information:
Sinéad McElroy, Irish Sports Council; 01-8608804 or 087-6338512

smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie

Additional Information:

RESULTS

Senior Crews

LW2x  Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls – Won B final, 7th overall

Sinéad Jennings (St. Michael’s)

Niamh NiCheilleachair (Castleconnell)

LW1x Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls – 3rd in A final; bronze medal.

Orlagh Duddy (Belfast)

W1x Heavyweight Women’s Single Sculls – 3rd in C final, 15th overall

Caroline Ryan (Garda)

M4- Heavyweight Men’s Four – 5th in A final, 5th overall

Alan Martin (NUIG)

Sean Casey (Muckross)
Cormac Folan (NUIG)

Sean O’Neill (St. Michael’s)

           

Under 23 Crews
LW1x Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls 

Siobhan Mc Crohan (Tribesman) – 3rd in C final, 15th overall

Orla Hayes (Skibbereen) – 2nd in B final, 8th overall

LM1x Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls – 3rd in B final, 9th overall

Liam Molloy (NUIG)

LM4- Lightweight Men’s Four – 2nd in C final, 14th overall

Daniel Murphy (Cork)

Ben Clarke (Commercial)

Kevin Clarke (Commercial)

Vincent Ruane (NUIG)

M4- Heavyweight Men’s Four – 3rd in C final, 15th overall

David Walsh (Cork)

Aodhan Kelly (Neptune)

Niall Kenny (St. Michael’s)

Martin Walsh (Imperial)

Key Dates

Rowing World Cup 3:              Lucerne, Switzerland 13th – 15th July

World Rowing Championships: Munich, Germany 26th August – 2nd Sept