Irish rowers win medals at European Universities Championships

Sam McKeown and lightweight men’s double Miles Taylor and Chris Beck all take bronze

Irish rowers won three bronze medals at the European Universities Rowing Championships. Photograph: Inpho
Irish rowers won three bronze medals at the European Universities Rowing Championships. Photograph: Inpho

Single sculler Sam McKeown and the lightweight men's double of Miles Taylor and Chris Beck won bronze medals at the European Universities Rowing Championships in Subotica, Serbia.

McKeown (22) competed for Ireland in the last two World Under-23 Championship Regattas, and Beck, who is 23, did so in the 2015 Under-23 Championships.

The weather was poor, with McKeown dealing well with cross-head and crosswind conditions. The big man is the record holder on the ergometer in Ireland (five minutes 55 seconds for 2,000 metres), and his coach, Mick Desmond said he was pleased with his progress on the water this year. "We know he has physiological capacity, but it took skill to come down that course."

The Queen’s rowers competed as part of the British universities’ team, which won the overall prize.

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At the Irish Rowing Championships, Queen’s won the novice eight final.

European Universities Rowing Championships, Subotica, Serbia (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls - A Final: 3 Queen’s University, Belfast (M Taylor, C Beck) 7:54.24.

Single Sculls - A Final: 3 Queen’s University, Belfast (S McKeown) 8:51.42.

Liam Gorman

Liam Gorman

Liam Gorman is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in rowing