#Rowing: Sanita Puspure came from sixth to take the bronze medal at the World Cup Regatta in Varese. Carling Zeeman of Canada cut loose in the final quarter to win a surprise gold, with Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus holding off the fast-finishing Puspure to take silver.  

World Cup Regatta, Varese, Italy – Day Three (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls – A Final: 1 South Africa 6:41.13, 2 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:41.36, 3 Belgium 6:44.12; 4 Netherlands One 6:44.29, 5 Spain 6:49.1, 6 Denmark 6:55.17.  

Women

Single Sculls – A Final: 1 Canada (C Zeeman) 7:49.41, 2 Belarus (E Karsten) 7:50.97, 3 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:51.40; 4 Switzerland 7:52.17, 5 Belarus Two 7:56.22, 6 China 7:57.53.

#Rowing: Ireland’s Gary and Paul O’Donovan took silver at the first World Cup Regatta of the year in Varese in Italy this morning. South Africa took gold, having broken away from the Irish in the final quarter, only to be almost caught on the line – thre was just .23 of a second in it. Belgium took the bronze.    

World Cup Regatta, Varese, Italy – Day Three (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls – A Final: 1 South Africa 6:41.13, 2 Ireland (G O’Donovan, P O’Donovan) 6:41.36, 3 Belgium 6:44.12; 4 Netherlands One 6:44.29, 5 Spain 6:49.1, 6 Denmark 6:55.17.  

#Rowing: Denise Walsh won the B Final of the lightweight single sculls at the World Cup Regatta in Varese in Italy. The Skibbereen woman fought off Swiss and Algerian opponents to take seventh place overall at the event. Siobhán McCrohan, the second Ireland crew, withdrew.

World Cup Regatta, Varese – Day Two (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Four – C Final (places 13 to 16): 1 Canada One 6:09.73, 2 Serbia 6:11.21, 3 Austria 6:15.85, 4 Ireland (L Seaman, M O’Donovan, L Keane, S O’Driscoll) 6:16.00.

Lightweight Double Sculls – A/B Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final) – Semi-Final One: 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan, G O’Donovan) 6:19.57, 2 Netherlands One 6:20.69, 3 Belgium One 6:20.85; 4 Poland One 6:22.21, 5 Switzerland One 6:24.99, 6 Portugal One 6:51.45. Semi-Final Two: 1 South Africa 6:19.42, 2 Spain 6:22.08, 3 Denmark 6:22.09; 4 Turkey 6:22.09.

Women

Pair – C Final (places 13 to 16): 1 Norway One 7:22.74, 2 Ukraine 7:23.16, 3 Ireland (L Kennedy, B O’Brien) 7:33.07.  

Single Sculls – A/B Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final) – Semi-Final One: 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:26.60, 2 Belarus Two (T Kukhta) 7:27.86, 3 Canada (C Zeeman) 7:29.01; 4 Ukraine 7:30.70, 5 Sweden 7:37.22, 6 Latvia 7:37.48. Semi-Final Two: 1 Belarus 7:29.10, 2 Switzerland 7:29.93, 3 China 7:31.28.

Lightweight Double Sculls – C Final (places 13 to 17): 1 Ireland (C Lambe, S Jennings) 7:17.24, 2 Italy Three 7:26.29, 3 Chile 7:29.71.  

Lightweight Single Sculls – Repechage (First Two to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Poland Two 7:49.90, 2 Switzerland One 7:51.76; 5 Ireland Two (S McCrohan) 8:04.69, 6 Ireland One (D Walsh) 8:08.81. B Final: 1 Ireland One (D Walsh) 7:50.00, 2 Switzerland 7:52.51, 3 Algeria 7:58.6.

#Rowing: Sanita Puspure won her semi-final and will compete in the A Final of the single sculls at the World Cup Regatta in Varese in Italy. The Ireland sculler powered into an early lead and never relinquished it. A battle for second and third was won by Tatsiana Kukhta of Belarus and Carling Zeeman of Canada, with Ukraine’s Nataliya Dovgodko missing out and going to the B Final.   

World Cup Regatta, Varese – Day Two (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Four – C Final (places 13 to 16): 1 Canada One 6:09.73, 2 Serbia 6:11.21, 3 Austria 6:15.85, 4 Ireland (L Seaman, M O’Donovan, L Keane, S O’Driscoll) 6:16.00.

Women

Pair – C Final (places 13 to 16): 1 Norway One 7:22.74, 2 Ukraine 7:23.16, 3 Ireland (L Kennedy, B O’Brien) 7:33.07.  

Single Sculls – A/B Semi-Final One (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:26.60, 2 Belarus Two (T Kukhta) 7:27.86, 3 Canada (C Zeeman) 7:29.01; 4 Ukraine 7:30.70, 5 Sweden 7:37.22, 6 Latvia 7:37.48.

Lightweight Double Sculls – C Final (places 13 to 17): 1 Ireland (C Lambe, S Jennings) 7:17.24, 2 Italy Three 7:26.29, 3 Chile 7:29.71.  

Lightweight Single Sculls – Repechage (First Two to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Poland Two 7:49.90, 2 Switzerland One 7:51.76; 5 Ireland Two (S McCrohan) 8:04.69, 6 Ireland One (D Walsh) 8:08.81

#Rowing: Sinéad Jennings and Claire Lambe ended their campaign at the World Cup Regatta in Varese with a commanding performance to win the C Final of the lightweight double sculls. They led all the way and were four lengths clear of nearest rivals, Italy Three, at the finish.  

 Ireland had two competitors in the repechage of the women’s lightweight single sculls. There were two places on offer in an A Final, but Poland and Switzerland One took these. Siobhán McCrohan finished fifth and Denise Walsh sixth.  In the lightweight men’s four, Ireland battled it out for third in the C Final with Austria, losing out by .15 of a second.  In the C Final of the women’s pair, Leonora Kennedy and Barbara O’Brien finished third. Norway pipped Ukraine to win.

World Cup Regatta, Varese – Day Two (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Four – C Final (places 13 to 16): 1 Canada One 6:09.73, 2 Serbia 6:11.21, 3 Austria 6:15.85, 4 Ireland (L Seaman, M O’Donovan, L Keane, S O’Driscoll) 6:16.00.

Women

Pair – C Final (places 13 to 16): 1 Norway One 7:22.74, 2 Ukraine 7:23.16, 3 Ireland (L Kennedy, B O’Brien) 7:33.07.  

Lightweight Double Sculls – C Final (places 13 to 17): 1 Ireland (C Lambe, S Jennings) 7:17.24, 2 Italy Three 7:26.29, 3 Chile 7:29.71.  

Lightweight Single Sculls – Repechage (First Two to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Poland Two 7:49.90, 2 Switzerland One 7:51.76; 5 Ireland Two (S McCrohan) 8:04.69, 6 Ireland One (D Walsh) 8:08.81

#Rowing: The Ireland lightweight double of Sinéad Jennings and Claire Lambe finished fourth in their repechage and are bound for a C Final of the World Cup in Varese in Italy. Italy One and Italy Two battled it out at the head of the field, while Ireland lost a battle for the third qualification spot to Sweden.  

 The Ireland men’s lightweight four finished fifth in their repechage, rowed as conditions became tougher. The Ireland women’s pair of Leonora Kennedy and Barbara O’Brien also finished fifth in their repechage and also go to a C Final.

World Cup Regatta, Varese (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Four – Heat Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Italy Two 6:00.40, 2 United States 6:00.95; 4 Ireland (L Seaman, M O’Donovan, L Keane, S O’Driscoll) 6:18.75. Repechage One (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C Final): Poland One 6:01.07, 2 Japan One 6:02.92, 3 Poland Two 6:03.41; 5 Ireland 6:14.13.

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan, G O’Donovan) 6:27.07, 2 Britain 6:33.38; 3 Netherlands Two 6:48.24.  

Women

Pair – Heat One (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Germany 7:23.08, 2 Russia One 7:24.46; 5 Ireland (L Kennedy, B O’Brien) 7:46.38. Repechage Two (First Three to Repechages; rest to C Final): 5 Ireland 7:24.68.

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Two (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Switzerland 7:03.98, 2 Canada 7:04.45; 3 Ireland (C Lambe, S Jennings) 7:05.0. Repechage One (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C Final): 1 Italy One 6:57.42, 2 Italy Two 6:59.61, 3 Sweden One 7:01.20; 4 Ireland 7:05.60.

Single Sculls – Heat One (Winner to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:34.32; 2 Czech Republic (M Knapkova) 7:36.13. 

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat One (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Netherlands Two 7:40.25, 2 Italy 7:45.99; 4 Ireland Two (S McCrohan) 8:02.38.

Heat Two (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Canada 7:42.41, 2 Netherlands One 7:45.30; 5 Ireland One (D Walsh) 8:11.91.

#Rowing: Ireland ended the first session of the World Cup in Varese with two heat wins and five crews set for the second chance of the repechages. Siobhan McCrohan finished fourth in her heat of the lightweight single sculls and Denise Walsh one place further back in her heat.  

 The men’s lightweight four finished fourth in their heat. The race was won by Italy Two, with the United States One second. Ireland placed fourth down the course, ahead of fifth-placed Austria One.   

World Cup Regatta, Varese (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Four – Heat Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Italy Two 6:00.40, 2 United States 6:00.95; 4 Ireland (L Seaman, M O’Donovan, L Keane, S O’Driscoll) 6:18.75

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan, G O’Donovan) 6:27.07, 2 Britain 6:33.38; 3 Netherlands Two 6:48.24.  

Women

Pair – Heat One (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Germany 7:23.08, 2 Russia One 7:24.46; 5 Ireland (L Kennedy, B O’Brien) 7:46.38.

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Two (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Switzerland 7:03.98, 2 Canada 7:04.45; 3 Ireland (C Lambe, S Jennings) 7:05.0.

Single Sculls – Heat One (Winner to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:34.32; 2 Czech Republic (M Knapkova) 7:36.13.  

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat One (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Netherlands Two 7:40.25, 2 Italy 7:45.99; 4 Ireland Two (S McCrohan) 8:02.38.

Heat Two (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Canada 7:42.41, 2 Netherlands One 7:45.30; 5 Ireland One (D Walsh) 8:11.91.

#Rowing: Ireland had its second heat win at the World Cup Regatta in Varese, as the lightweight double of Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan gave an excellent display. They took over the lead in the second half of the race and beat Britain into second place, with both crews qualifying for semi-finals.  

 Sinéad Jennings and Claire Lambe finished third in their heat, missing direct qualifcation for the semi-finals by just one spot. The Ireland lightweight double were very close to leaders Switzerland down the course, but in the drive for the line Canada took the second qualification place, with Ireland .55 of a second behind.    

World Cup Regatta, Varese (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan, G O’Donovan) 6:27.07, 2 Britain 6:33.38; 3 Netherlands Two 6:48.24.  

Women

Pair – Heat One (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Germany 7:23.08, 2 Russia One 7:24.46; 5 Ireland (L Kennedy, B O’Brien) 7:46.38.

Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Two (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Switzerland 7:03.98, 2 Canada 7:04.45; 3 Ireland (C Lambe, S Jennings) 7:05.0.

Single Sculls – Heat One (Winner to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:34.32; 2 Czech Republic (M Knapkova) 7:36.13.  

#Rowing: Sanita Puspure won her heat of the single sculls at the World Cup in Varese  this morning, beating Olympic champion Mirka Knapkova in a close finish. Puspure goes on to the semi-finals, while Knapkova goes to a repechage.

 Leonora Kennedy and Barbara O’Brien finished fifth of six in their heat of the women’s pair. They go into a repechage.

World Cup Regatta, Varese (Selected Results, Irish interest)

Women

Pair – Heat One (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Germany 7:23.08, 2 Russia One 7:24.46; 5 Ireland (L Kennedy, B O’Brien) 7:46.38.

Single Sculls – Heat One (Winner to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:34.32; 2 Czech Republic (M Knapkova) 7:36.13.  

#Rowing: The Ireland team for the first World Cup regatta, in Varese in Italy from April 15^th to 17^th, will feature seven crews. The Olympic-bound lightweight double sculls of Sinéad Jennings and Claire Lambe and Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan will be joined by the three boats which hope to find their way to Rio through the qualifiers in May – the  lightweight men’s four, the women’s pair and single sculler Sanita Puspure – and by Siobhán McCrohan and Denise Walsh in lightweight single sculls. McCrohan and Walsh were to trial for a single spot, but the trial was twice postponed and both will now travel.

 Pararower Karol Doherty will go out with the bulk of the team on April 12^th, and will compete in the Paralympic Qualifier in Gavirate in Italy on April 20^th to 23^rd.   

 Ireland Team for World Cup, Varese, Italy, April 15^th to 17^th

 Men

 Lightweight Four: L Seaman, M O’Donovan, L Keane, S O’Driscoll. Lightweight Double Scull: P O’Donovan, G O’Donovan.

 Women

Pair: L Kennedy, B O’Brien. Lightweight Double Scull: C Lambe, S Jennings. Single Scull: S Puspure. Lightweight Single Scull: S McCrohan, D Walsh.

 Crew for Paralympic Qualification Regatta, Gavirate, Italy, April 20th-23^rd: K Doherty (Arms and Shoulders men’s single scull).