Displaying items by tag: World Junior Championships

11th August 2019

Fifth for Ireland at World Junior Championships

#Rowing: Ireland’s Molly Curry and Rhiannon O’Donoghue finished fifth in the junior double at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Tokyo. The race was won by the outstanding Lisa Bruijnincx and Jacobien van Westreenen of the Netherlands. The Dutch pushed China into second. Behind them Germany lost out to Lithuania in the battle for bronze.

Curry and O’Donoghue initially fought it out with Greece for fifth. They won this battle and made up metres on Germany, but could not quite push into the battle for medals.

World Rowing Junior Championships, Tokyo, Day Five (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Four, coxed – A Final: 1 Germany 6:32.41, 2 South Africa 6:32.71, 3 China 6:33.90; 4 Ireland (J O’Donovan, M Gallagher, J Dorney, J Kearney; cox: L O’Regan) 6:34.82.

Women

Junior Double Sculls – A Final: 1 Netherlands 7:25.50, 2 China 7:27.66, 3 Lithuania 7:30.23; 5 Ireland (R O’Donoghue, M Curry) 7:38.08

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11th August 2019

Ireland Coxed Four Denied Bronze at World Junior Championships

#Rowing: Ireland’s junior men’s coxed four took fourth place at the World Junior Championships in Tokyo this morning.

The Ireland crew of James O’Donovan, Matthew Gallagher, Jack Dorney, John Kearney and cox Leah O’Regan came in just under a second short of the bronze medal slot.

Germany judged the race best of all. China, Ireland and South Africa were the top crews to the 1,000 metres, with China taking over a slim lead from their two rivals. Even as the Chinese tried to extend their advantage, Germany closed on all three crews. They produced a remarkable final 500 metres to sweep into the lead. South Africa took the silver and China just held out to take the bronze.

World Rowing Junior Championships, Tokyo (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Four, coxed – A Final: 1 Germany 6:32.41, 2 South Africa 6:32.71, 3 China 6:33.90; 4 Ireland (J O’Donovan, M Gallagher, J Dorney, J Kearney; cox: L O’Regan) 6:34.82.

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10th August 2019

Ireland's Curry and O'Donoghue Qualify for A Final in Tokyo

#Rowing: Ireland’s Rhiannon O’Donoghue and Molly Curry will compete in the A Final of the junior double sculls at the the World Junior Championships in Tokyo on Sunday. The Ireland crew took a clear third place in their semi-final this morning.

The Netherlands were impressive winners, while Lithuania raced well to take second. Ireland pulled clear of Belgium to sit in a qualification spot at 1500 metres. Italy pushed hard coming to the line, but they could not overhaul the Killorglin and Coleraine Grammar School girls.

China were the best crew in the first semi-final and look to the be the key challengers to Lisa Bruijnincx and Jacobien van Westreenen of the Netherlands. Germany were second to China and Greece won a contest with Britain to take third.

World Rowing Junior Championships, Day Four (Irish interest):

Women

Junior Double – Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Netherlands 7:06.94, 2 Lithuania 7:12.66, 3 Ireland (R O’Donoghue, M Curry) 7:13.46; 4 Italy 7:15.71.

Semi-Final One: 1 China 7:09.41, 2 Germany 7:12.26, 3 Greece 7:14.12.

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8th August 2019

Curry and O'Donoghue Progress with Win at World Junior Championships

#Rowing: Ireland’s Molly Curry and Rhiannon O’Donoghue won their repechage and qualified for the A/B semi-finals at the World Junior Championships in Tokyo.

The Ireland junior women’s double overhauled Hungary in an impressive move. With 300 metres to go they were down; they drew level at 1750 and then motored clear to win by just over a length.

Ireland’s junior men’s coxed four had earlier qualified for their A Final by taking second in their heat.

World Rowing Junior Championships, Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Four, coxed – Heat One (First Two to A Final; rest to Repechage): 1 China 6:18.13, 2 Ireland (J O’Donovan, M Gallagher, J Dorney, J Kearney; cox: L O’Regan) 6:18.29; 3 South Africa 6:18.87.

Women

Junior Double Sculls – Repechage One (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (R O’Donoghue, M Curry) 7:10.06, 2 Hungary 7:13.17.

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8th August 2019

Ireland Finish With Sprint to Take A Final Place in Tokyo

#Rowing: The junior men’s coxed four gave Ireland its first A finalist at the World Junior Championships this morning. In a thrilling finish to their heat, they took the second qualifying spot behind China.

Three boats had charged for the line, covered by less than a second. China had held a small lead over Ireland through half way and managed to stay just ahead despite a good charge by the crew of James O’Donovan, Matt Gallagher, Jack Dorney, John Kearney and cox Leah O’Regan. South Africa closed on both, but missed out.

World Rowing Junior Championships, Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

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7th August 2019

Curry and O'Donoghue Second in Heat at World Junior Championships

#Rowing: Ireland’s Molly Curry and Rhiannon O’Donoghue finished second in their heat of the junior double sculls at the World Junior Championships in Tokyo this morning.

There was just one direct qualification spot for the A/B Semi-Finals, and the Netherlands were outstanding winners of this race. Lisa Bruijnincx and Jacobien van Westreenen made strong claims for being the best crew in this class with a big win.

Curry and O’Donoghue fought an exciting battle with Italy in the second half and won this by a length and a third. Greece, China and Belgium were the other heat winners.

Because of a worry about adverse weather, racing was run at five minute intervals, which brought forward the time of this heat.

World Rowing Junior Championships, Tokyo, Day One (Irish interest)

Women

Junior Double Sculls – Heat Four (Winner to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Netherlands 7:08.18; 2 Ireland (R O’Donoghue, M Curry) 7:16.55, 3 Italy 7:19.59.

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12th August 2018

Two Ireland Crews Contest B Finals at World Junior Championships

#Rowing: Ireland’s junior men’s coxed four took fifth in their B Final, 11^th overall, at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic. The Ireland crew of Conor Mulready, James O’Donovan, Fintan O’Driscoll, Eoin Gaffney and cox Eoin Finnegan had a reasonably good start and were right up with the leaders, Canada, at 500 metres. From there the race was all about the Canadians, who tore away. They led by one length at the 750 metres and went on to win. Croatia took over in second. South Africa, Russia and Ireland vied for the next spot until the final 500 metres, when Ireland fell back to fifth.

The Ireland junior women’s pair of Eliza O’Reilly also took fifth in their B Final. Hungary, Britain and Germany fought it out at the head of the field and finished in that order. Ireland were competitive behind them, but Romania annexed the fourth spot. South Africa threatened to push Ireland back to last, but McGirr and O’Reilly finished well.

World Junior Championships, Racice, Czech Republic (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Four, coxed –B Final (Places 7 to 12): 1 Canada 6:25.93; 5 Ireland (C Mulready, J O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll, E Gaffney; cox: E Finnegan) 6:41.91.

Women

Junior Pair – B Final (Places 7 to 12): 1 Hungary 7:35.92; 5 Ireland (G McGirr, E O’Reilly) 7:41.40.

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11th August 2018

Italy Hold Off Battling Ireland Crew at World Junior Rowing

#Rowing: Ireland finished second in the C Final of the junior men’s quadruple at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Racice in the Czech Republic. This placed the crew of Luke Hayes Nally, Alex Byrne, Jack Dorney and Jack Keating 14^th overall. Italy led early, and Ireland were their only consistent challengers. By the 1500-metre mark Italy were one and a quarter lengths clear of the Irish. Ukraine tried hard to unseat the Ireland crew, but they held on, finishing just over a length down on winners Italy.

The Ireland junior women’s double took fourth in their C Final, 16^th overall. At the head of the race, Croatia produced an excellent finish in the final metres to overhaul long-term leaders Lithuania. Austria took the next spot, with Ireland’s Ciara Moynihan and Ciara Browne next through.

World Junior Championships, Racice, Czech Republic (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Four, coxed – A/B Semi-Final: 1 Italy 6:23.40, 2 Australia 6:25.34, 3 Czech Republic 6:26.32; 6 Ireland (C Mulready, J O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll, E Gaffney; cox: E Finnegan) 6:34.84.

Junior Quadruple – C/D Semi-Final: 1 Ireland (L Hayes Nally, A Byrne, J Dorney, J Keating) 6:12.77, 2 Lithuania 6:16.01, 3 Norway 6:19.17. C Final (places 13 to 18): 2 Ireland 6:00.95.

Women

Junior Pair – A/B Semi-Final: 1 Greece 7:15.53, France 7:29.98, 23 Canada 7:31.25; 4 Ireland (G McGirr, E O’Reilly) 7:34.52

Junior Double – C/D Semi-Final (First Three to C Final, rest to D Final): 1 Ireland (C Moynihan, C Browne) 7:42.52, 2 Croatia 7:48.16, 3 Serbia 7:50.41. C Final: 4 Ireland 7:23.79.

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11th August 2018

O'Reilly and McGirr Denied in Record-Breaking Race

#Rowing: Eliza O’Reilly and Gill McGirr took fourth in their semi-final, just missing out on an A Final place at the World Junior Championships this morning. The junior pairs race featured an extraordinary performance by Maria Kyridou and Christina Bourmpou of Greece. They set a new best time for the World Junior Championships of seven minutes 15.53 seconds – racing virtually entirely on their own, well clear of the five other crews. The contest for second and third, and qualification for the top six, saw France and Canada swap places through the middle of the race. McGirr and O’Reilly moved with purpose after half way and gained on these two. They fell short by 3.27 seconds of catching Canada, who took third.

The Ireland junior men’s coxed four finished sixth in their A/B semi-final. The crew of Conor Mulready, James O’Donovan, Fintan O’Driscoll, Eoin Gaffney and cox Eoin Finnegan were in touch at 500 metres, but by half way had dropped back to sixth and did not look in serious contention for a top-three place from there. Italy, Australia and the Czech Republic took the A Final places.

The Ireland junior men’s coxed four and women’s pair will compete in B Finals, while the junior men’s quadruple and junior women’s double – both of which won their C/D semi-finals – will race in C Finals.

World Junior Championships, Racice, Czech Republic (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Four, coxed – A/B Semi-Final: 1 Italy 6:23.40, 2 Australia 6:25.34, 3 Czech Republic 6:26.32; 6 Ireland (C Mulready, J O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll, E Gaffney; cox: E Finnegan) 6:34.84.

Junior Quadruple – C/D Semi-Final: 1 Ireland (L Hayes Nally, A Byrne, J Dorney, J Keating) 6:12.77, 2 Lithuania 6:16.01, 3 Norway 6:19.17.

Women

Junior Pair – A/B Semi-Final: 1 Greece 7:15.53, France 7:29.98, 23 Canada 7:31.25; 4 Ireland (G McGirr, E O’Reilly) 7:34.52

Junior Double – C/D Semi-Final (First Three to C Final, rest to D Final): 1 Ireland (C Moynihan, C Browne) 7:42.52, 2 Croatia 7:48.16, 3 Serbia 7:50.41.

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11th August 2018

Ireland Junior Crews Look Sharp at World Rowing

Ciara Browne and Ciara Moynihan with coach Ray Morrison.

#Rowing: Ireland had two impressive wins in their first races on Saturday at the World Junior Championships in Racice in the Czech Republic.

The Ireland junior men’s quadruple looked like they were out to make a point in their C/D semi-final. They started well, established an early lead and never showed any sign of letting it go. They will now have one of the favoured lanes in the C Final for places 13 to 18.

Ciara Moynihan and Ciara Browne will also compete in the C Final after their semi-final win. The two girls from Workmen’s also led through the race. Croatia had an overlap for much of the 2,000 metres, but Moynihan and Browne moved clear in the final quarter.

World Junior Championships, Racice, Czech Republic (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Quadruple – C/D Semi-Final: 1 Ireland (L Hayes Nally, A Byrne, J Dorney, J Keating) 6:12.77, 2 Lithuania 6:16.01, 3 Norway 6:19.17.

Women

Junior Double – C/D Semi-Final (First Three to C Final, rest to D Final): 1 Ireland (C Moynihan, C Browne) 7:42.52, 2 Croatia 7:48.16, 3 Serbia 7:50.41.

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About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth