#Rowing: Ireland had to settle for sixth place in the first heat of the men’s pair at the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton in Florida today. The new crew of Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan and Patrick Boomer were never realistic contenders for one of the first two places,  which would have sent them directly to the A/B semi-finals. They are now set for a repechage on Tuesday (5.24 or 5.29 Irish time).

 Ireland’s three lightweight crews won their heats: single sculler Denise Walsh secured her win with a sprint finish, while Paul O’Donovan and the pair of Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll won relatively easily.  

World Rowing Championships, Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida – Day One – Irish Interest:

Men

Pair – Heat One (First two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Italy 6:27.88, 2 France 6:33.03; 6 Ireland (F McQuillan-Tolan, P Boomer) 6:50.82.

Lightweight Pair – Heat One (First to A Final; rest to Repechage): 1 Ireland (M O’Donovan, S O’Driscoll) 6:33.20, 2 Britain (J Cassells, S Scrimgeour) 6:38.57, 3 Italy 6:40.39.

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat Three (First Four to Quarter-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 6:54.68, 2 Brazil 7:05.75, 3 Italy 7:09.88, 4 Thailand 7:17.50.

Women

Lightweight Single Sculls – Heat Three (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (D Walsh) 7:43.87, 2 South Africa 7:44.38, 3 Italy 8:03.34.