#Rowing: Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll are Ireland’s first crew in action at the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton in Florida on Sunday. The lightweight pair take on Britain, Hungary and Italy – and if they win this heat at 3.10 pm Irish time they go directly to the A Final. Paul O’Donovan’s heat of the lightweight single sculls follows at 3.30 – he will have a more demanding programme, as he will only qualify for a quarter final by taking a top four place.
In quick succession there are heats for the Denise Walsh (4.01) and the men’s pair of Patrick Boomer and Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan (4.11).
The women’s pair, though an Olympic event, has 11 crews. So while Aileen Crowley and Aifric Keogh would have to win their heat (3.46 on Monday) to qualify for the A Final, they know that they have a repechage to come and a guaranteed place in at least the B Final.
Sanita Puspure goes at 4:32 on Monday. She has a tough heat, featuring Switzerland, Latvia and Bahrain, with the winner going to the A/B semi-final.
World Rowing Championships, Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida – Draw – Irish Interest:
Sunday (times Irish; heats)
3:10: Men’s Lightweight Pair – Mark O’Donovan, Shane O’Driscoll (Winner to A Final; rest to Repechages)
3:30: Men’s Lightweight Single Sculls: Paul O’Donovan (First Four to Quarter-Finals; rest to Repechages)
4:01: Women’s Lightweight Single Sculls: Denise Walsh (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages)
(Note!) 4:06: Men’s Pair: Patrick Boomer, Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages)
Monday
3:46: Women’s Pair: Aileen Crowley, Aifric Keogh (Winner to A Final)
(NOTE!) 5:32: Women’s Single Sculls: Sanita Puspure (Winner to A/B Semi-Final)
