All four of the Irish women’s boats competing at day two of the World Rowing Championships progressed onto the next stage, under the piercing sun in Belgrade.
A duo component of the bronze Olympic medal winning four in Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh raced in their pair heat, ultimately finishing in second place behind the Netherlands. They snatched a time of 07:17.14, meaning they will now compete in the Repechage tomorrow in a bid for a place in the semi finals. There they will at the very least be aspiring to be amongst the top 11 crews overall in order to secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
☘️Heat Result☘️
Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh are into the Repechage after a second place finish in their heat!#wearerowingireland #greenblades pic.twitter.com/Fcr0of58Rk— Rowing Ireland (@RowingIreland) September 4, 2023
Alison Bergin and Zoe Hyde grabbed headlines when they triumphed in their double sculls heat, championing over Lithuania (07:02.26) in second place and Norway in third (07:07.90) to claim first place. With a time of 06:59.39. They now look forward to the semi finals, where they'll need to be in the top 11 crews to lock in a spot at the illustrious quadrennial competition next summer.
☘️Heat Result☘️
Alison Bergin and Zoe Hyde are straight into the A/B Semi after a win in their heat!#wearerowingireland #greenblades pic.twitter.com/p8ObcOHfgo— Rowing Ireland (@RowingIreland) September 4, 2023
Mags Cremen and Aoife Casey rounded out their heat with a time of 07:07.54, pipped to the top spot only by Romania who edged out with a 07:07.16 time. The result however does mean they go straight into the semi final, and also in good stead to finish in the top seven crews who will be off to the Olympics in the lightweight double scull.
☘️Heat Result☘️
Mags Cremen and Aoife Casey are into the LW2x A/B Semi after a second place finish in their heat!#wearerowingireland #greenblades pic.twitter.com/iVnF9l2TPt— Rowing Ireland (@RowingIreland) September 4, 2023
Another of the Olympic bronze medal winning four, Eimear Lambe, as well as the formidable former single sculls World Champion, Sanita Pušpure, decked out for this year’s edition of the four boat alongside Imogen Magner (Carlow RC) and Natlie Long (Lee Valley RC). They clocked a third place finish of 06:47.99, behind Australia with 06:43.52 and Great Britain with 06:39.50 and will also progress to their semi finals. A top seven finish overall would be enough to clinch their respective Olympic qualification.
☘️Heat Result☘️
Eimear, Sanita, Imogen and Natalie are into the W4- A/B Semi after a third place finish in their heat!#wearerowingireland #greenblades pic.twitter.com/NNRp7cYQqX— Rowing Ireland (@RowingIreland) September 4, 2023
