The Rowing Ireland team for the World Rowing Cup II has been confirmed by Rowing Ireland’s High-Performance Director, Antonio Maurogiovanni.

Eight Senior Irish crews will be looking to continue the success of the European Rowing Championships and the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta. The eight Irish crews will be competing in Lucerne this weekend 21st – 23rd May.  Four of the six qualified Olympic Boats will be competing this weekend, Women’s Single (W1x), Men’s Double (M2x), Lightweight Men’s Double (LM2x) and Women’s Pair (W2-).

Aileen Crowley and Monika Dukarska will be competing in the Women’s Pair. Last month they finished 6th overall at the Europeans in Poznan and they also qualified the Women’s Pair for the Olympics at the 2019 World Rowing Championships. Aileen went on to win Bronze at the 2020 European Rowing Championships in Poznan in the Women’s Four. Monika is a two-time World Coastal Champion in the Women’s Solo, winning in 2016 and 2009, missing the 2020 European Rowing Championships due to an injury.

Tara Hanlon and Claire Feerick will be competing in the second Irish Women’s Pair. Tara and Claire competed together at the World U23 Rowing Championships in Sarasota in 2019, and they won Silver as part of the Women’s Four. In 2020, Tara finished fifth in the Women’s Pair at the European Rowing Championships alongside Emily Hegarty. Claire and Tara both competed at the U23 European Rowing Championships in Duisburg, with Claire racing in the Women’s Single Scull, finishing fourth in the A final, and Tara competing in the Women’s Pair, taking home the Bronze Medal.

Philip Doyle and Ronan Byrne will be competing in the Men’s Double in Lucerne. The Men’s Double competed in the 2021 European Rowing Championships in April, finishing 1st in the B Final. Philip and Ronan qualified the Men’s Double by winning Silver at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, they also won Silver in the Men’s Double at the World Rowing Cup III in 2019.

Alex Byrne, Ross Corrigan, Jack Dorney and John Kearney will be competing in the Men’s Four. Alex, Ross, Jack and John competed together at the U23 European Rowing Championships in Duisburg last September and won the Bronze Medal. The Men’s Four has a lot of experience at international regattas and have represented Ireland internationally over several years. They have been training together in the National Rowing Centre before joining the Senior Team on camp in Varese.

Sanita Puspure will be competing in the Women’s Single Scull in Lucerne. Sanita last competed at the 2020 European Rowing Championships and retained her Championship by winning Gold. Sanita is a two time consecutive World and European Champion, winning the World Championship in 2018 & 2019 and the European Championships in 2019 & 2020. Sanita has also competed for Ireland in two Olympics (2012 & 2016) and qualified the Women’s Single for the Tokyo Olympics at the 2019 World Rowing Championships.

Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy will be competing in the Lightweight Men’s Double. The Lightweight Double won Gold at the 2021 European Rowing Championships last month. Paul and Fintan won Gold at the 2019 World Rowing Championships and qualified the boat for the Olympics. They also won Silver at the World Rowing Cup III in Rotterdam earlier that year. Fintan went on to win Bronze in the Lightweight Men’s Single at the 2020 European Rowing Championships. Paul is a four-time consecutive World Rowing Champion, having won Gold in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Paul won an Olympic Silver Medal alongside his brother Gary at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He also won Gold (2016) and two Silver Medals (2017 & 2018) at previous European Rowing Championships.

Lydia Heaphy will be competing in the Lightweight Women’s Single in Lucerne this weekend. Lydia returns in the single after a strong performance last month, finishing sixth in the 2021 European Rowing Championships in Varese. Lydia had a successful 2020 after winning Gold, alongside Cliodhna Nolan, in the Women’s Lightweight Pair at the European U23 Rowing Championships. Lydia and going on to finish first in the B Final at the Senior European Championships in October.

Gary O’Donovan will be competing in the Lightweight Men’s Single. Gary competed in the single last month and finished 4th at the 2021 European Rowing Championships in Varese. Along with Paul, Gary won Silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won a World Championship in 2018. He also won Gold at the 2016 European Rowing Championships in Brandenburg and won Silver in 2017 and 2018. Gary won Bronze in the Lightweight Men’s Single in the 2019 World Rowing Cup III in Rotterdam.

Confirmed Irish Crews

Women’s Pair (W2-)

  • Aileen Crowley (OCBC)
  • Monika Dukarska (Killorglin)

Women’s Pair (W2-)

  • Claire Feerick (Neptune)
  • Tara Hanlon (UCC)

Men’s Double (M2x)

  • Ronan Byrne (UCC)
  • Philip Doyle (Belfast BC)

Men’s Four (W4-)

  • Jack Dorney (Shandon)
  • Alex Byrne (UCC)
  • John Kearney (UCC)
  • Ross Corrigan (Queens)

Women’s Single (W1x)

  • Sanita Puspure (OCBC)

Lightweight Men’s Double (LM2x)

  • Fintan McCarthy (Skibbereen)
  • Paul O’Donovan (UCC)

Lightweight Women’s Single (LW1x)

  • Lydia Heaphy (UCC)

Lightweight Men’s Single (LM1x)

  • Gary O’Donovan (Skibbereen)

Staff Team

Antonio Maurogiovanni – High-Performance Director

Fran Keane – Rowing Ireland Coach

Dominic Casey – Rowing Ireland Coach

Giuseppe De Vita – Rowing Ireland Coach

Feargal O’Callaghan – Team Manager