Padraic Hussey proved himself among the top 10 in the world in junior sculling yesterday but was still a disappointed man. The Offaly teenager finished fourth in yesterday's single sculls semi-finals at the World Junior Championships at Ottensheim in Austria, missing a place in the six-boat final by 1.31 seconds.
There was a very close finish to Hussey's semi-final, with less than three and a half seconds separating the winner, Estonia (seven minutes 8.02 seconds), to Ireland in fourth place (7.08.02). The United States was second and host nation Austria, took third in perfect conditions with temperatures in the high 20s centigrade. Offalyman Hussey had also been pipped by the Austrian in his heat on Wednesday.
Hussey's coach Frank Durkin said he was happy enough with Hussey's level of achievement afterwards. "He performed well enough - he would be 10 kilos lighter than most of the others. For all that he is disappointed. If he had got another length out of himself he would be in the final." While he may still have some growing to do to reach the physique of the bigger men, the Irish 18-year-old is 6ft 2in and weighs in at 74kg. If exam results go his way, he will be granted a scholarship by University College, Dublin, this year, which should help him work on this area. In the more immediate future, he competes in today's B final with every chance of winning or taking second, which would rank him seventh or eighth in the world.
On the domestic front, today is also an important day. The trials to determine the final composition of the lightweight quadruple scull which will compete in the senior World Championships in Cologne next month will be held at Blessington.
The unpredictable weather, which has been the scourge of the sport in this country this year, means that the trials have been brought forward, and will now start at 6 a.m.
The quad proved themselves worthy of pre-selection for the championships with fine performances in the World Cup regattas this year, but missed out on a top three place at the last of these in Lucerne, which would have guaranteed that the existing composition of the boat would not have been changed. As things stand, one or more of the four men who have been involved so far - Emmet O'Brien, Niall O'Toole, Neal Byrne and Owen Byrne - may have to give way.
The Four other scullers who will take part in today's trial are Gearoid Towey from Fermoy, Lady Victoria's John Armstrong, Donal McGuinness of Commercial and UCC's Eugene Coakley.
