Another golden moment for Skibb rowing stars at World Championships

On a wonderful day in Sarasota in Florida for Skibbereen and Irish rowing, two boats secured gold medals, with the lightweight pair of Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll capping a glorious season with their first world gold, before Paul O’Donovan defended the lightweight single sculls title he claimed in Rotterdam last year.

There was also another impressive row from Sanita Puspure in the heavyweight single semi-final, qualifying her for tomorrow’s final. And the only disappointment was Denise Walsh’s sixth-place finish in her women’s lightweight single final, though the experience will stand to the young Skibbereen woman.

After Puspure set the perfect tone with a storming effort in her semi, just pipped for the win by Jeannine Gmelin of Switzerland, O’Donovan and O’Driscoll got the trio of finals off to the perfect start for Ireland.