Ireland will send six crews to the first World Cup regatta of the year, in Munich; four in combinations which are targeted at gaining Olympic qualification this year. Sanita Puspure and Lisa Dilleen will team up in the double scull, the women’s heavyweight boat in which Ireland are anticipated to bid for Olympic qualification at the World Championships in Bled in September. Puspure, a Latvian athlete, is still awaiting Irish citizenship, but she is allowed to compete in the World Cup series.
Siobhán McCrohan will team up with Claire Lambe in the lightweight double scull. They were sixth at the World Cup regatta in Bled and fourth in the European Championships last season which indicates this crew has an opportunity to qualify a boat for Ireland at Bled this year. They must finish in the top eight to do so.
Niall Kenny will partner Mark O’Donovan in one of two lightweight double sculls, another Olympic-class boat. Justin Ryan and Peter Hanily are in the other double. Michael Maher and Sarah Dolan will compete in lightweight single sculls.
IRISH TEAM for World Cup Regatta, Munich, May 27th to 29th: Men – Lightweight Men’s Double Scull: M O’Donovan, N Kenny; P Hanily, J Ryan. Lightweight Single Scull: M Maher. Women – Double Scull: L Dilleen, S Puspure. Lightweight Double Scull: C Lambe, S McCrohan. Lightweight Single Scull: Sarah Dolan.
