Displaying items by tag: Katie O'Brien

23rd September 2022

Katie O'Brien Crowned 2022 PR2 W1x World Rowing Champion

Katie O'Brien is the 2022 PR2 W1x World Rowing Champion! The first day of the finals in the Czech Republic has got off to a good start, with a gold medal in Ireland's pocket already.

O'Brien showed fierce strength from her very first stroke, nudging her bow ahead of the other scullers. She was the fastest moving boat throughout the race, increasing her lead with each quarter. Up against the previous World Champion, Katherine Ross from Australia, Katie knew that it would be no easy feat. Katie finished in a time of 9:25.23, ten seconds ahead of Australia in second place.

Katie O'Brien (centre) wears the gold medal after and defeating PR2 W1x defending champion Katherine Ross from Australia

This is the first time that Katie has beaten Ross.

It's straight back into focus now for Katie as she heads into the PR2 Mixed Double A Final tomorrow afternoon with Steven McGowan.

Zoe Hyde (Killorglin RC) and Sanita Puspure (Old Collegians) returned to the water today for the A/B Semi of the Women's Double. After a quick start, the double form Ireland were the first to reach the 500m mark, staying bow ball to bow ball with Laila Youssifou and Roos de Jong of the Netherlands, right up to the halfway point. The Dutch crew began to pull away creating a length's lead on Ireland, but Zoe and Sanita stepped it up another gear in the final quarter of the race, to finish less than a second and a half behind them. They race again this Sunday in their A Final.

Lydia Heaphy (Skibbereen RC) finished in third place in the Lightweight Women's Scull B Final, ranking her ninth in the world. Crossing the first marker in fifth place, Lydia pushed on through the race finding speed and moving through the rowers from Spain and the USA to take that third position.

Hugh Moore finished up his World Championships with a third place in the D Final of the Lightweight Men's Scull. Similar to Lydia's race, Hugh started behind and gradually came through his competitors, to take third position. Off the start, the Finnish and Tunisian scullers were ahead but by the 1500m mark, Moore had moved ahead. He finished behind Lukasz Sawicki from Poland and Oscar Peterson from Denmark.

Ireland Results
PR2 W1x A Final - Gold
W2x A/B Semi 2nd -> A Final
LW1x B Final - 3rd
LM1x D Final - 3rd

Saturday Schedule (IST)

10:48am - W2- B Final
11:28am - M4- B Final
12:05pm - PR2 Mix2x A Final
1:07pm - LW2x A Final
1:23pm - LM2x A Final
1:39pm - W4- A Final

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Fine Start at World Championships by Katie O'Brien

#Rowing: Katie O'Brien took a fine third place in her first race of the World Rowing Championships. The Galway woman's contest came in a preliminary round - but it was a notable contest, as Kathryn Ross of Australia won in a new world's best time of nine minutes 24.99. Behind her Annika van Der Meer of Netherlands fought it out with O'Brien, who finished well to the cheers of the Irish crowd in the grandstand.

World Rowing Championships, Day Four (Irish interest)

Women's PR Two Single Sculls, Preliminary Race: 1 Australia (K Ross) 9:24.99; 3 Ireland (K O'Brien) 9:52.13.

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Para Rower O'Brien Gives Ireland a Women's Henley Win

#ROWING: Katie O’Brien from Galway won on her debut at Women’s Henley today. The 17-year-old pararower from the Tribesmen club won the Arms and Shoulders single scull, beating Claire Connon from Cantabrigian by three lengths.

O’Brien represented Ireland in the 2013 World Cup at Dorney Lake, partnering Keith Connolly in the Trunk and Arms mixed double scull.

The young pararower has said her long-term ambition is to compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, in the Trunk and Arms discipline, where the only event is a mixed double scull.

Women’s Henley (Finals; Irish interest):

Trunk and Arms Single Sculls: Tribesmen (K O’Brien) bt Cantabrigian (C Connon) 3l, 4 minutes 39 seconds.

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About the Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race is the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. Off shore yacht racing changed forever with adventurers and sailors, inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, following in his pioneering wake. Nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. History was made. Navigating with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world. In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the worlds media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. The original race is back.

The Golden Globe Race: Stepping back to the golden age of solo sailing

Like the original Sunday Times event back in 1968/9, the 2018 Golden Globe Race was very simple. Depart Les Sables d'Olonne, France on July 1st 2018 and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables d'Olonne. Entrants are limited to use the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Robin Knox-Johnston in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite-based navigation aids.

Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 and having a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. These yachts will be heavily built, strong and steady, similar in concept to Robin's 32ft vessel Suhaili.

In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the 'Golden Age' of solo sailing. Suhaili was a slow and steady 32ft double-ended ketch based on a William Atkins ERIC design. She is heavily built of teak and carried no computers, GPS, satellite phone nor water-maker, and Robin completed the challenge without the aid of modern-day shore-based weather routing advice. He had only a wind-up chronometer and a barograph to face the world alone, and caught rainwater to survive, but was at one with the ocean, able to contemplate and absorb all that this epic voyage had to offer.

This anniversary edition of the Golden Globe Race is a celebration of the original event, the winner, his boat and that significant world-first achievement. Competitors in this race will be sailing simple boats using basic equipment to guarantee a satisfying and personal experience. The challenge is pure and very raw, placing the adventure ahead of winning at all costs. It is for 'those who dare', just as it was for Knox-Johnston.

They will be navigating with sextant on paper charts, without electronic instruments or autopilots. They will hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves.

Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency and ham radios allow.

It is now possible to race a monohull solo around the world in under 80 days, but sailors entered in this race will spend around 300 days at sea, challenging themselves and each other. The 2018 Golden Globe Race was a fitting tribute to the first edition and it's winner, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Background on Don McIntyre (61) Race Founder

Don is an inveterate sailor and recognised as one of Australia s greatest explorers. Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, his desire is to recreate the Golden Age of solo sailing. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race. In 2010, he led the 4-man Talisker Bounty Boat challenge to re-enact the Mutiny on the Bounty voyage from Tonga to West Timor, in a simil