Irish lightweight four into semi-finals

Rowing : The Irish men's lightweight four were comprehensive winners of the repechage race at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing…

Rowing: The Irish men's lightweight four were comprehensive winners of the repechage race at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park this morning to book their pace in the semi-final.

The crew of Cathal Moynihan, Gearóid Towey, Richard Archibald and Paul Griffin were first across the line in a time of 6:21.81 and had daylight between themselves and the Netherlands in second. The American boat came home in third to also book their place in the semi-finals with Egypt missing out in fourth.

It wasn't the best of starts for the Irish quartet as a fast pace was set from the outset and by the halfway stage the Netherlands were leading. However, the experienced Irish crew kept to their strategy and finished very strongly for a comfortable win in the end.

Elsewhere all five of the Irish horses have passed the second veterinary inspection at Sha Tin racecourse where the show jumping phase of the three-day event gets underway at 12.15 Irish time.

READ MORE

Lightweight Men's Four Repechage 1:

1 Ireland 6:21.79 (Q)
2 Netherlands 6:25.25 (Q)
3 United States 6:27.43 (Q)
4 Egypt 6:37.50