Rowers miss out on Olympics

A LAST ditch bid by Irish rowers to qualify for the Olympics failed at the World Cup regatta in Lucerne yesterday.

In the Men’s single sculls final, Sean Casey gave a gutsy performance in an exceptionally competitive race but missed out on one of the three qualification places by finishing sixth.

Casey, who won his repechage on Monday just failed to keep pace with the leaders and finished the race in a time of 7.02.97, just over seven seconds short of qualification.

Bulgaria took top spot with Belgium and Great Britain in second and third respectively.

Lightweights Neil Casey and Derek Holland faced some of the best heavyweights in the world and also finished in sixth. The German crew took the first Athens spot with the Argentinians snatching the last qualification spot on the line.

There was heartbreak for Sinéad Jennings and Heather Boyle in the final of the Women’s double sculls after finishing in fourth place, missing out on one of the two qualifying spots.

The pair held second position until the final 500 metres.

The Poles won the final with the Danes taking the second spot ahead of Finland.