Irish rowers performing well in World Cup
Skibbereen talent Timmy Harnedy has made a telling breakthrough in sculling circles at the World Cup in Munich this morning, stroking brilliantly through to the A final of the lightweight singles.
The 21-year-old, a member of the Olympic-qualified lightweight fours, has gone solo this week and following in the foot steps of double World Champion Sam Lynch, claimed second behind Hungarian Peter Loerinczy in 7:11.00 to claim a spot in tomorrow's élite final.
The Corkman held strong in lane two and third spot through 1000m in 3:37.34. With two to qualify, Harnedy made up nearly a second-and-a-half on Swiss champion Stephan Steiner in the closing 500m to seal second place and complete his stunning progression, having finished third in a World Cup C final two years ago in Lucerne.
There were also victories for Paul O'Sullivan in the open sculls D final (7:20.89), with Sean Jacob back in sixth, and Offaly woman Niamh Ní Chéilleachair claimed first in the lightweight sculls C final, leading from start to finish over New Zealander Carolyn Steele.
1991 World Champion Niall O'Toole, who took Harnedy's spot in the four, lines out in one of three major semi finals for Ireland's rowers this afternoon, with the pairings of Sam Lynch and Gearóid Towey and Heather Boyle and Sinead Jennings also taking to the Bavarian waters.
