Success for Northern Irish Rowers at World Cup Regatta

The first World Cup regatta of the season in Varese saw some impressive performances from Northern Irish rowers, with Belfast’s Rebecca Shorten standing out by clinching gold in the women’s fours event. Shorten, along with her teammates Helen Glover, Samantha Redgrave, and Esme Booth, led from start to finish, fending off tough competition from both their fellow British rowers and the world champions from the Netherlands.

On the other hand, Banbridge’s Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch secured a bronze medal for Ireland in the men’s double sculls final. The duo displayed their trademark sprinting prowess to overtake Germany at the finish line, showcasing their potential for the upcoming Olympic season.

Despite the success of Shorten and Doyle, there were mixed results for other Northern Irish rowers. Coleraine’s Hannah Scott and Aughnacloy’s Rebecca Edwards narrowly missed out on a podium finish for Great Britain in the women’s quadruples and pairs events, respectively.

For the Irish contingent, Emily Hegarty, Eimear Lambe, Natalie Long, and Imogen Magner finished fourth in the women’s fours, while Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh claimed silver in the women’s pair event.

As the Olympic qualifying regatta in Lucerne looms on the horizon, these strong performances will serve as a confidence boost for the Northern Irish and Irish rowers aiming to secure their spots at the Paris Olympics. With the competitive spirit on display in Varese, fans can expect more thrilling races and potential medal wins from these talented athletes in the upcoming regattas.