Jennings breezes through in Linz

ROWING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSSINEAD JENNINGS breezed through to Friday's semi-finals of the World Championships in Linz by winning her heat of the lightweight single sculls by over six seconds. Ireland's two other crews face repechages after failing to qualify yesterday.

Ksenia Potapova of Russia led in the early stages of Jennings's race, but the world champion of 2001 took over in the second quarter and left the rest behind. Sweden's Karin Hoegberg took the second qualification spot from Potapova.

Jennings said a heat was sometimes a race just to be got out of the way. "But I actually really enjoyed that."

One of Jennings's main rivals for the gold, Lindsay Jennerich of Canada, also had an emphatic win. Home favourite Michaela Taupe-Traer also came through well.

However, a tough draw in the second heat saw a three-way battle for the two top spots: Swiss sculler Pamela Weisshaupt had to pull out a fast time to win from Julie Nichols of the US, with third-placed Teresa Mas de Xaxars of Spain set to see action again today.

The Spaniard has taken bronze three times in this event (2002, 2005 and 2006), and Jennings said she may well be a contender come Sunday.

"I'd never write her off. I'd say she'll improve as the regatta goes on."

Jennings has a long break now to Friday. "I wouldn't mind just getting on with it," she said. But a repechage was never part of the plan. "You have to win your heat - you have to win everything at this stage if you're going to be looking for the gold."

Ireland's other crews were both competing for the first time in this formation, and today's repechages will give them another chance to put it all together.

The men's coxed pair of James Wall, Alan Martin and cox Mike Griffin of St Michael's - who was not on the official entry - lost their battle with Ukraine for the third qualification spot in their heat.

In the lightweight men's pair, Eugene and Richard Coakley were not in contention for most of the race, and finished fifth of five.