Irish crews racing on Friday 30 May
LM1x (Paul O’Donovan) Heat 3 08:25 IRL FRA BUL ITA TUR 1-2 to A/B Semi-finals on Saturday, remainder to Repechage on Friday afternoon (14:36-14:56)
W2- (Leonora Kennedy and Lisa Dilleen) Heat 2 10:55 SRB GER ROU CRO IRL 1 to A Final on Sunday, remainder to Repechages on Saturday morning
W1x (Sanita Puspure) Heat 3 10:45 CZE NED IRL SWE LAT 1-2 A/B Semi-final on Saturday, remainder to Repechage on Friday afternoon (16:42-16:48)
W2x (Eimear Moran and Monika Dukarska) Heat 2 11:25 GBR CZE IRL POL NED 1-2 to A Final on Sunday, remainder to Repechage on Friday afternoon (16:12)
All times above are Irish (Belgrade time -1)
A team of six athletes will be representing Ireland at the 2014 European Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia from 30 May-1 June. The six athletes will compete in four events, and are hoping to continue on their early season successes, all crews having medalled at the Memorial Paulo d’Ajola International Regatta in April this year.
The Women’s Pair of Leonora Kennedy and Lisa Dilleen, a newly formed crew for the 2014 season, have already put in some impressive performances on the international stage this season, winning two gold medals at the Memorial Paolo d’Ajola International Regatta. They will hope to continue this good form racing against Europe’s top crews this weekend. The 11 entries in their event include current the reigning World Champions from Great Britain, Polly Swann and Helen Glover.
London 2012 Olympian, Sanita Puspure, hopes to continue her recent success on the international stage, after winning two silver medals at the Memorial Paolo d’Ajola International Regatta. Puspure, who was Ireland’s sole representative in rowing at the 2012 Olympic Games, missed most of the 2013 season due to illness. Puspure will be competing at the European Championships in her preferred event of the Women’s Single Scull. The event has a top class entry of 18 crews, including 2012 Olympic Champion Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic and 2013 World Champion Annekatrin Thiele of Germany.
Eimear Moran and Monika Dukarska will be racing in the Women’s Double Scull, where they face tough competition, with 13 crews entered, including the reigning World Championships from Lithuania, and several Olympic medallists. The crew have been improving consistently since coming together in April this year, winning a bronze medal in Piediluco, and are looking forward to racing against the tough competition at the European Championships, including the reigning World Champions from Lithuania.
Paul O’Donovan will be competing in the Men’s Lightweight Single Scull. With a huge entry of 21 crews, O’Donovan will have a tough task on his hands to qualify for the A Final and a shot at a medal. The main competition is likely to come from Pedro Fraga of Portugal, 2013 silver medallist in this event, and bronze medallist at the 2013 World Championships, Adam Freeman-Pask of Great Britain. The youngest member of the Irish team at only 20 years of age, O’Donovan will be looking to build up some international racing experience ahead of the U23 World Championships in July, where he will be hoping to improve on his bronze-medal winning performance last year.
The 2014 European Rowing Championships has attracted a record number of entries, with 36 European nations taking part. The Championships were re-introduced in 2007, their format was based on an earlier version which took place up until 1973.
Despite the recent devastating floods in Serbia, the course remains unaffected, and the Championships is expected to go ahead as planned. “The water level of the Sava River which surrounds the venue is at the usual level for this time of year and does not present a threat” says Nebojsa Jevremovic, Secretary General of the Serbian Rowing Federation “With this in mind, the safety of all of the participants and spectators of the 2014 European Rowing Championships in Belgrade is assured.”
We will be posting updates throughout the weekend on the crews’ progress on our Website and social media.
The World Rowing website will have a live race tracker available during the event, with audio for all races, and a live video stream for Sunday’s A Finals. There will also be live blogging, photos, race reports and more published throughout the weekend.
Full Team:
Women’s Single Scull Sanita Puspure (Old Collegians BC)
Women’s Double Scull Eimear Moran (Three Castles RC) Monika Dukarska (Killorglin RC)
Women’s Pair Lisa Dilleen (Grainne Mhaol RC) Leonora Kennedy (Portora BC)
Men’s Lightweight Single Scull Paul O’Donovan (UCD BC)
