A number of Ireland’s elite rowers set personal bests during the ergometer (rowing machine) tests yesterday, the first day of the two-day National Assessments in Newry.
Top heavyweight oarswoman Sanita Puspure knocked three seconds off the time she set in December’s National Indoor Championships, while under-23 athlete Lisa Dilleen and lightweights Michael Maher and Claire Lambe also impressed. Rising star Sean Prendeville matched 22-year-old Maher’s time of six minutes 17 seconds for the 2,000 metre test, and outstanding junior oarsman Adrian Sheehan clocked 6:28. In the women's junior 16 category, Bridget Jacques again shone, with a time of seven minutes 23 seconds.
The men’s heavyweight class was hit hard by the absence of Colin Williamson (ill) and Sean Jacob (family bereavement).
National Assessment, Newry (Selected Results)
Men, Open: S Penny 6:13.0, D Neale 6:30. Under-23: E Mullarkey 6:14.0, M O’Brien 6:21.0, S Breheny 6:24. Under-20: C Logan 6:34.0.
Lightweight: M Maher 6:17, M O’Donovan 6:25, C Moynihan 6:26, A English 6:27. Under-23: S Prendeville 6:17, J Ryan 6:17.0, N Kenny 6:22.0. Under 20: S O’Driscoll 6:27.
Junior 18: A Sheehan 6:28, H Millar 6:29.0. Junior 16: A McGrath 6:45, C O Riada 6:45, P Hegarty 6:45.
Women, Open: S Puspure 6:46.0, E Moran 6:54.0. Under-23: L Dilleen 6:53.0, M Dukarska 6:59.0; Under 2o: S Bennett 7:12, C Fitzgerald 7:50.0
Lightweight: S McCrohan 7:20, O Hayes 7:27.0. Under-23: C Lambe 7:12.0, S Dolan 7:41.0, G Hosford 7:46.0, C Hurst 7:50. Under 20: D Walsh 7:34.0, L Shirlow 7:51.0.
Junior 18: K O’Brien 7:07, A Sheehan 7:13.0, R Shorten 7:20. Junior 16: B Jacques 7:23.0.
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