It was an early morning of good conditions, convincing wins and one tight finish at the Irish Rowing Championships.
The first of five deferred races from the Friday started not long after 6.30 in very good conditions – and victory went to a familiar name.
Caoimhe Casey of Skibbereen won the women’s lightweight single. The 20-year-old was put under pressure by Tasmin Rainsford, but the Lee woman stopped and had to go again. Casey, the daughter of Ireland lightweight coach Dominic, took the chance and was a big winner.
Trinity held off University of Galway to win the women’s novice eight, and there was great finish in the women’s junior 16 coxed quadruple. Lee came strongly at the end in this non-Championship event, but the victory would go to Cumann Rámhaíochta Choláiste na Coiribe (pic, from live coverage) by a single second.
Killorglin and Bann fought it out in the women’s intermediate double, but experienced international Monika Dukarska and Aoibhe Horan wrested the lead for Killorglin and held on to it, though Bann’s Alex Hutchinson and Katie Shirlow came strongly at the finish.
The men’s senior four looked likely to go to UCD or the composite of Commercial and Shandon. The composite were well in it until the final quarter. UCD broke clear, and while the composite closed up coming to the line, UCD had it.