Donegal’s Jennings won the faster of the two semi-finals by over three seconds from Austria and Germany to advance as the leading sculler to this afternoon’s ‘A’ final (3.50pm Irish time). Derry woman Duddy placed third behind the Canadian and Swedish entries in the other semi-final to join Jennings in this afternoon’s ‘A’ final. Unfortunately Offaly’s Niamh NiCheilleachair did not make the grade finishing sixth in the same semi-final as Duddy. NiCheilleachair will race later today in the ‘B’ final for places 7-12 at this regatta, at 3.30pm Irish time.

The last of the four Irish female lightweights racing here; under-23 sculler Orla Hayes raced in the morning’s ‘C’ final and produced a positive performance to secure third place in it; an overall placing of 15th at this regatta.

In the ‘C’ final (places 12-18) of the men’s lightweight single sculls (LM1x) Ireland’s Dave Mannion put in a good row to take the win, in this his first senior international regatta in the single. Mannion’s NUIG club mate Liam Molloy came in behind him in third, which represents an overall placing of 15th at this regatta.

In this afternoon’s Olympic programme the Beijing bound men’s heavyweight four (M4-) will race in the repechages (1.58pm Irish time). With only the top two boats in each repechage advancing to tomorrow’s ‘A’ final the Irish quartet will be up against it. The Irish four, stroked this weekend by Sean O’Neill, must contend with world champions New Zealand, the higher ranked Czech four who were silver medallists at the opening World Cup, the quartet from Belarus and the second string British four.