ROWING:THE IRELAND lightweight four took gold yesterday at the big international regatta in Piediluco in Italy. The boat, which brought Ireland medals in two of the last three World Championships but missed out on Olympic qualification last year, is "back on track", according to coach John Holland.
In the first day of finals, on Saturday, Ireland had to settle for second behind Italy, but yesterday they bested the hosts, who have already qualified for Beijing by taking bronze at last year's World Championships. It was a particularly good result for Ireland, as Cathal Moynihan replaced Eugene Coakley in the crew at the last minute after the Corkman pulled a muscle in the warm-up.
Germany, who are almost certain to be Ireland's main rivals in the chase for the two places available at the Olympic Qualifier in June, opted to row heavyweight at the weekend. But Ireland's time was only 0.6 seconds down on the Germans (6:34 to 6:33.4) - and the Irish were racing on weight.
The battle between Sinéad Jennings and Caroline Ryan in the heavyweight single scull proved too close to call - they ended only 0.1 seconds apart yesterday, and both are likely to travel on to the first World Cup Regatta in Munich early next month. Jennings and Ryan want to land a place at the Olympic Qualifier, but they were not on the pace in Piediluco.
Ireland's men's and women's lightweight double sculls also have a long way to travel. The men's crew did not make the finals on either day, and while the women's crew of Orlagh Duddy and Niamh Ní Cheilleachair took bronze yesterday, they were over 16 seconds down on winners Croatia.
The crews at Piediluco had to battle through horrible conditions, with cold wind and rain, whereas Neptune's regatta in Islandbridge on Saturday featured calm water and thundery downpours. UCD's rising talents continued to shine, however: the college amassed eight wins, including the men's and women's senior eights and the women's senior coxed four.
There was a tinge of controversy to the win in the men's senior eight, however: while they were commanding winners against Commercial in the final, UCD had come through the semi-final against Trinity only on an objection. John Aiken, the umpire, agreed that Trinity had infringed and disqualified them - even though UCD's coaches agreed their great rivals had won the battle on the day.
Aiken had earlier disqualified the visiting Oxford University eight in the exhibition race against the Islandbridge Selection, but this was a superfluous judgment - the home crew had already mastered the visitors in an impressive show of strength.
The best race of the finals, the women's intermediate eight, was won by a canvas by UCD after a thrilling battle. But, paradoxically, it was another fillip for the youth policy of Commercial.
St Michael's of Limerick also finished out the day with a flurry of good results at junior level, but Portadown took the men's junior 18 quadruple scull.
Trinity's senior eight got their revenge for Saturday's defeat when they beat UCD in yesterday's final at Commercial Regatta. There was less than a length in it after a fine race.
