Ireland’s Sanita Puspure won the B Final of the single sculls at the the World Cup regatta in Lucerne yesterday to place her seventh overall.
This was a commanding performance by Puspure, who was annoyed that she had not made the A Final. She was challenged by Fie-Udby Erichsen of Denmark, the Olympic silver medallist in 2012, but left her behind by 1,800m.
"Sanita is not far from where the medals will be," said Ireland high-performance director Morten Espersen. Puspure had the harder semi-final on Saturday and was held out of third by Britain's Victoria Thornley in a race won by Emma Twigg, with Olympic champion Mirka Knapkova second.
“I need to get stronger, there is need for improvement,”
said Puspure and she identified the middle 1,000m as the area to work on as she moves on to the World Championships.
Women's pair Lisa Dilleen and Lenora Kennedy pulled out on Saturday as Kennedy had aggravated a back condition.
At the Irish Rowing Championships in Cork, Trinity's senior eight gave the reigning champions a real rattle, but Gráinne Mhaol/NUIG came through to win their third successive title – by 0.41 of a second. Trinity took the fight to the Galway men and led for most of the race. They were reeled in and headed with 200m to go, but came again to roars from the crowd in the stands. There was a more straightforward win for NUIG/Cork Boat Club in the women's eights, though Trinity again kept them honest.
It was a satisfying Championships of close finishes, fine weather – and the Spanish angle. Oisín and Dervla Forde were a crucial part of a wonderful weekend for Cork Boat Club,who took seven titles.
They dominated the junior women’s pairs and backboned Cork’s first win in a junior women’s eight. The sisters also won the junior doubles and Oisí
n added the single after a battle with Jasmine English of Belfast Boat Club. The Fordes have lived in Spain for 12 years. Cork nabbed them when they came to trial for Ireland.
Cork and St Michael's won thrilling races. A photo-finish gave Cork the verdict over Presentation in the men's junior coxed four, while St Michael's charged past Carlow in the men's junior pair. John Keohane beat Paul O'Donovan to take his third senior single sculls title, while Claire Lambe took the senior women's title and lightweight crown.
