A big Ireland team will compete at the World Under-23 and Junior World Championships at Varese in Italy at the end of this month.
Ireland have a good record at both these Championships in recent years. Holly Davis and partner Rachel Bradley took a bronze medal in the junior double sculls last time out: this year Davis of Lee Valley teams up with Anna Keating of Shannon.
Ireland will send two other junior crews. In the women’s quadruple, Skibbereen’s Moya Knowles and Lauren McCarthy Steele partner Ayla O’Neill of Kenmare of and Kate Reidy of Lee. Fergus Bryce of Coleraine GS joins Ciarán O’Sullivan in the junior men’s double.
Andrew Sheehan of Lee (pictured) and Adam Murphy of Shannon were part of the Ireland coxed four which took silver at the World Under-23 Championships in 2021. John Kearney was part of the Ireland coxless four which also took silver. These three team up with Nathan Timoney to form the coxless four for Varese 2022.
Fermoy’s Alison Bergin, who placed very well in 2021 (ninth) gets another chance in the Under-23 single, while Brian Colsh of NUIG and Konan Pazzaia of Queen’s team up in a double.
An all-Queen’s crew will represent Ireland in the lightweight men’s double, as Hugh Moore and Ciarán Purdy team up.
Nine junior men and four junior women have been chosen to represent Ireland at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Spain on the same weekend.
Ireland will also send a big team to the Home International Regatta at London Docklands on Saturday, July 23rd.
Tomorrow (July 9th), brings the 1k Halfway Challenge at the National Rowing Centre. This has attracted an impressively large entry. There will be straight finals over 1,000 metres for underage and masters crews.
Ireland Teams for Junior and Under-23 World Championships, Varese, Italy, July 27th to 31st and Coupe de la Jeunesse, Spain, July 29th to 31st.
World Under-23 Championships
Men’s Four: John Kearney (UCC), Nathan Timoney (QUBBC), Adam Murphy (Shandon), Andrew Sheehan (Lee RC)
Men’s Double: Brian Colsh (NUIG), Konan Pazzaia (QUBBC)
Men’s Lightweight Double: Hugh Moore (QUBBC), Ciarán Purdy (QUBBC).
Women’s Single: Alison Bergin (Fermoy BC)
Reserves Jack Dorney (Shandon), Ryan Spelman (ULRC)
World Junior Championships
Junior Women’s Quadruple: Moya Knowles (Skibbereen), Lauren McCarthy Steele (Skibbereen), Ayla O’Neill (Kenmare), Kate Reidy (Lee RC)
Junior Women’s Double: Holly Davis (Lee Valley), Anna Keating (Shannon RC)
Junior Men’s Double: Ciaran O’Sullivan (Lee RC), Fergus Bryce (Coleraine Grammar School).
Coupe de la Jeunesse
Athletes to represent Ireland at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Castrelo Do Miño, Spain. Crew combinations will be finalised closer to the event.
Junior Women’s Squad
- Ranya Praxamar (Galway RC)
- Amy Barret (New Ross BC)
- Kelly Oforji (Skibbereen RC)
- Alannah Donohoe (Sligo RC)
Junior Men’s Squad
- James Young (Cork Bc)
- Andrew O Leary (Presentation RC)
- Harry Feeney (Carlow)
- Christopher O Donovan (Skibbereen RC)
- Noah Giltinan (Presentation RC)
- Zach Meegan (Athlone BC)
- Rohan O Hara Nolan (Sligo RC)
- Ronan Gibbon (New Ross BC)
- Shane Rafferty (St Michaels RC)