Day 3 at the 2026 World Rowing Cup I in Seville saw six crews in action – including four A finals. It was double bronze for Rowing Ireland crews on Sunday, to back up the Silver won by Izzy Clements on Saturday.
The Women’s Double of Mags Cremen and Zoe Hyde claimed an excellent bronze medal in their first competitive outing since their 7th place finish at the World Championships in Shanghai last September. In the same race their team-mates Sophia Young and Alison Bergin finishing a really strong fifth place in debut as a partnership. The competition was fierce from the Olympic Champion Romanian crew and highly fancied Dutch pair. Young and Bergin showed their mettle, unlucky to be pipped by the Polish crew for fourth right on the finish line. The results speak to the depth of female talent and future potential in the Rowing Ireland ranks.
In blisteringly hot conditions Single Sculler Fiona Murtagh capped off the squad’s first World Rowing regatta of the season with a gutsy performance, claiming third position on the podium behind Great Britan and Lithuania.
The Women’s Four finished sixth in an A Final stacked with quality from the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britan. The experience in such company will be a massive positive for the developing crew of Natalie Long, Imogen Magner and debutants Emma Fagan and Claire Feerick as they look to build for the rest of the season.
High Performance Director Niall O’Carroll said:
“I’m really proud of the athletes’ performances in Seville, it shows where we are, and where the international competitive level is, so we’re in a great place. It’s been a valuable first season hit-out to confirm we’re on track as we look to qualification for LA28, and will give us both encouragement and insights for our approach going forward”.
Completing his debut in the Men’s Open Single Sculls, lightweight double Olympic champion Fintan McCarthy led in the early stages of his hotly contested B Final. However, strong finishes from Portugal and Slovenia meant the Skibbereen RC rower had to settle for third place. The result is a positive step for McCarthy as he continues his development in the new class.
The Men’s Pair of Adam Murphy & Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan placed sixth against strong competition in their B Final and will take heart from the experience.
All in all, a very positive first outing of the season for the Irish Team.
Speaking following the regatta, Rowing Ireland Interim CEO Matt McKerrow said:
“What is truly heartening from World Cup 1, beyond the podiums and the inspirational performances from our amazing athletes, is the number of emerging rowers and crews realising their potential, learning, developing and matching it with the World’s best. The future’s bright. In the same breath, I’m very proud of the team off the water, under the leadership of Niall O’Carroll and the expert coaching of Dominic Casey, the support team in Seville and the team back home in the NRC have worked together tirelessly and gone above and beyond to provide the athletes with every opportunity to be their best. It’s days like these that really reward their efforts, and I can’t thank them enough”.
Rowing Ireland Final Results – World Cup 1 Seville
| Event | Athlete(s) | Final Placing |
| W1x | Fiona Murtagh (University of Galway BC) | Bronze – A Final |
| LW1x | Izzy Clements (Tara RC / Edinburgh University Boat Club) | Silver – A Final |
| W2x | Zoe Hyde (Tralee RC) Mags Cremen (Lee RC) | Bronze – A Final |
| M1x | Fintan McCarthy (Skibbereen RC) | 3rd – B Final |
| W2x | Alison Bergin (Fermoy RC) Sophia Young (Methodist College Belfast RC) | 5th – A Final |
| Women’s 4 | Natalie Long (Lee Valley RC) Emma Fagan (University of Galway BC) Imogen Magner (Lee Valley RC) Claire Feerick (Oxford Brookes/Neptune RC) | 6th – A Final |
| Men’s Pair | Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan (Cork Boat Club) Adam Murphy (UCC RC / Shandon BC) | 6th – B Final |
| M4x | Konan Pazzaia (Queen’s University Belfast BC) Andrew Sheehan (UCC RC / Lee RC) Ryan Spelman (Oxford Brookes / St Michael’s RC) Martin O’Grady (University of Galway BC / Athlone BC) | B Final – DNS (Medical) |
Photo Credit: Conor Lyall.
