O’Donovan and McCarthy set seal on best-ever European Championships for Irish rowers by defending their lightweight double crown Independent.ie 8 hrs ago Robert Treharne-Jones
World champions Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy fulfilled all expectations with a successful defence of their European title in Italy yesterday. Gold for the lightweight double was the icing on the cake for Ireland’s rowers, who finished the weekend with two medals from six A finalists – their best-ever European Championships.
Competing on Lake Varese, north of Milan, O’Donovan and McCarthy were characteristically slow off the start, with Jonathan Rommelmann and Jason Osborne of Germany leading the six-boat pack off the blocks.
Six Irish crews carry medal prospects into finals Independent.ie 4 hrs ago Robert Treharne Jones
Ireland’s lightweight double sculls were on top form for the semi-finals at the European Championships in Italy yesterday. Both crews secured places in their finals to add to the qualifying slots achieved by their teammates in Friday’s heats, so six Irish crews will be in contention for today’s medals.
Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy made no mistakes in their lightweight double, although it was the Italians, Stefano Oppo and Pietro Ruta who were first at the 500m, with Ireland third. In the second quarter O’Donovan and McCarthy turned up the heat and blew the leaders away, finishing with clear water ahead of Italy, while the Czech Republic just snatched third.