Local rowers advance to semi-finals at World Rowing Junior Championships
Two rowers from Athlone Boat Club who are representing Ireland at the 2021 World Junior Rowing Championships have advanced to the next stages of their events.
Martin O’Grady competed in the Men’s Double Sculls Repêchage this morning at the championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, alongside Oisin Boyle of Skibbereen Rowing Club, and finished first in a time of 06:34.12.
The duo beat competition from Slovenia, South Africa, USA, Latvia and Thailand, securing their place in the semi-final on Saturday, where they will face Romania, Switzerland, France, Greece and Norway.
Donagh Claffey competed alongside Ronan Gibbon, Fergus Bryce and David Foley in the Men’s Quad event and finished second in a time of 06:01.86, also securing their place in the A/B semi-final. The team were beat by Italy who finished in 05:56.52
They will now compete against Bulgaria, Belarus, Russia, Germany and Romania in the semi-final.
If successful, both Martin and Donagh will advance to the finals of their events, which take place on Sunday.
Athlone Boat Club wished both rowers luck in their semi-finals on Twitter by saying “Roll on Saturday and best wishes from all at the club.”