The 3rd Home International Rowing Beach Sprints saw Ireland’s rowers deliver solid performances, with strong finishes and impressive times throughout the event. Hosted by Rowing England, the competition on Bournemouth Beach featured crews from across the Home Nations battling it out under the warm autumn sun.
The Irish contingent demonstrated resilience and teamwork in a variety of events, leading to multiple top-three finishes.
Kate Verling and Neil O’Sullivan showcased their prowess in the CJMix2x category, placing second in the time trial with a time of 2:46.3. They then won their Semi Final 2 in an improved time of 2:35.3, demonstrating consistency. In the Final A, the pair secured 2nd place in 2:38.2.
Meabh McNamara and Alexander Grahamsmythe faced tough competition in the CBMix2x category. They placed 4th in their time trial with 2:59.9, before finishing 2nd in Semi Final 1 with a time of 3:08.0. The crew ended their campaign with another 2nd place in Final B, posting an impressive time of 2:51.4.
The pair of Lucy Bracken and Michael O’Boyle placed 5th in their time trial with 3:28.4. However, they fought back in the repechage, finishing 2nd in 2:52.4, showing their determination to improve through the competition.
Eva Shovlin delivered a solid performance in the junior women’s single sculls. She finished 4th in her time trial at 3:40.9, improved to 2nd place in Semi Final 1 with 3:23.4, and ended the event 2nd in Final B, posting 3:32.7.
Eoin O’Connell was the star for Ireland, dominating the CJM1x category. He won his time trial with a time of 2:54.1 and maintained his winning streak by coming first in Semi Final 1 with 2:36.5. In the Final A, O’Connell secured 1st place in 2:32.4, bringing home gold for Ireland in a commanding display.
Niamh Lordan placed 5th in her time trial with 3:23.0 but showed resilience in the repechage, finishing 2nd with a time of 3:15.4.
Rory O’Connor put up a solid effort, placing 3rd in his time trial with 2:50.3. He advanced to Semi Final 2, where he finished 2nd in 2:39.3, and ultimately secured 2nd place in Final B with a time of 2:50.5.
The Irish rowers put on a commendable performance at the Home International Rowing Beach Sprints, competing fiercely against teams from England, Scotland, and Wales. The event highlighted Ireland’s emerging talent, particularly with Eoin O’Connell’s gold medal-winning performance in the junior men’s single scull.
The team left Bournemouth with a sense of achievement, showcasing determination, teamwork, and the ability to rise to the challenge in tough conditions. The experience gained from this event will be invaluable as these athletes prepare for future competitions.
Congratulations to all the athletes for their fantastic performances!
