ROWING/WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: The rising arc of Irish rowing reached a new altitude yesterday when the lightweight four won a silver medal at the World Championships in Gifu, Japan.

"It's brilliant, a great feeling," said Eugene Coakley. "It's been a long time coming. Our work has finally paid off."

The Ireland women's double of Sinéad Jennings and Heather Boyle, also an Olympic-class boat, finished fifth in their final.

Coakley and his colleagues Paul Griffin, Richard Archibald and Tim Harnedy had targeted gold, but the race belonged to France from the first 60 seconds when they harnessed the extraordinarily fast conditions with a stunning start which propelled them to a lead of a length on the field.

Ireland, who prioritise the middle section, moved into a challenging position by halfway - but they were 1.47 seconds down on the leaders. Through the rest of the race the Irish launched their attacks, sporadically biting into the French margin but not looking as if they were going to take the lead.

The French had 1.37 seconds to spare at 1,500 metres and 1.35 at the end. A late Italian push threatened Ireland's second place, but the boys in green held on by four-hundredths of a second. "The French were better than us on the day," Coakley admitted.

While they knew the France tactic would be to get out in front early and hold their lead, the Irish could not grind them down on a river in flow and with a tailwind. The organisers have decided not to recognise times set at this championships because of the flow - but had predicted a strong headwind and even brought forward the programme because of the expected effects.

"In the last 500 metres we threw everything at it - but then we had to watch out for attacks from our left from the Italians and to our right from the Australians," said Coakley.

The Italians seemed hugely pleased with their bronze medal, and warmly applauded the Irish on the victory podium. The French were notably more self-possessed.

Coakley (26) had said prior to the championships he felt this was the time to gain tangible reward for 10 years at the sport at a high level, and the day arrived yesterday.

"At the moment it's hard to describe, really - elation for getting the silver medal and relief that our work has paid off. Hopefully we can use it as a springboard for the next three years," he said, referring to the rest of the Olympic cycle.

Meanwhile Jennings and Boyle were disappointed with their row, but echoed Coakley's concern with the run-up to Beijing. "Fifth is a great starting position. We'll be working on this," said Jennings.

Their slow start caused no panic, as it has been a characteristic pattern for the crew. By halfway they had moved up from the back of the field to fifth, but the push to challenge the top three never materialised.

They had steering difficulties in the second half and were frustrated with their row technically. "It's disappointing that the final was our worst row here," said Jennings.

The race featured a stirring final 500 metres, with surprise packets Renee Hykel and Julia Nichols of the United States giving eventual winners Daniela Reimer and Marie-Louise Draeger of Germany a real test. Finland's Sanna Sten and Minna Nieminen, who had held the lead for much of the race, had to settle for bronze.

The Ireland crew, with Boyle in the stroke seat, had come together only a month ago, as Jennings recovered from injury. Both said they would have benefited with a longer stint together.

"We need a lot more time in the boat in this combination. In these kind of conditions it is crews used to being together that will win," said Boyle. "I'm dying to get back into the boat to work on it."

The Ireland lightweight pair of Richard Coakley and Siaghal Mac Colgain finished sixth in their B final yesterday, 12th overall. The race was won by Britain's Paul Mattick and Danny Harte, a Scot with strong Irish connections who stroked Commercial's eight to victory in the Irish national championships last year.

In Saturday's action Ireland had secured 10th place in the world in the men's four and 11th in the lightweight single through Niamh Ní Cheilleachair. The Offaly woman was up with the leaders at halfway in her B final, but faded back in the closing stages of a race won by Chrysi Biskitzi of Greece. The four were disappointed not to mount more of a challenge in their B final, which was won by Italy.

The Britain four confirmed their dominance by winning the A final, but New Zealand were the big story of the finals. Mahe Drysdale won the men's single scull on Saturday and started a sequence of four wins as they annexed the women's and men's pair and women's double titles.