#ROWING: Ireland’s new women’s double of Helen Hanningan (neé Walshe) and Monika Dukarska made a significant breakthrough at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam today, qualifying for the A/B Semi-Finals. The target was a place in the top two of their repechage. Romania made the early pace, with Ireland and the United States joining them in the challenge. By the closing stagest the US had their place sewn up, while Dukarska and Hannigan took out Romania to enter the top 12 crews at the Championships.

World Rowing Championships, Day Four (Selected Results; Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Single Sculls – Quarter-Final (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Germany (L Hartig) 7:13.67, 2 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:14.76, 3 Denmark (S Jensen) 7:33.91; 4 Azerbaijan 7:25.84, 5 Russia 7:33.91, 6 Algeria 7:43.76.

Women

Double Sculls – Repechage Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Final: rest to C/D Semi-Final): 1 United States (M O’Leary, E Tomek) 7:18.10, 2 Ireland (H Hannigan, M Dukarska) 7:21.14; 3 Romania 7:22.87, 4 Estonia 7:48.85.