Hyde and Cremen reach semi-final at World Rowing Championships

The women's pair of Imogen Magner and Natalie Long have also qualified for their semi-final

Mags Cremen and Zoe Hyde will go in the semi-final of the women's double on Wednesday at the World Rowing Championships. Pic: Benedict Tufnell/Sportsfile

Zoe Hyde and Mags Cremen won their heat of the women's double sculls in blustery conditions at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam on Monday, advancing to the semi-finals.

Kerry native Hyde and Cork's Cremen had a strong second half of the heat to take the win in 7:46.73, more than four seconds ahead of Ukraine in second. The other heats were won by Lithuania, Great Britain and the Netherlands. 

"We're kind of used to the windy conditions from Ireland and even our national champs every year is always so windy, so we were just riding the waves and trusting our training," said Cremen.

"Good to get started."

29-year-old Hyde, who hails from Killorglin in Kerry, and 27-year-old Cremen from Rochestown in Cork were both Olympians in 2024, though not as partners. The pair have had an upward trajectory since finishing seventh overall at last year's World Championships, winning bronze at the World Cup in Seville and finishing fourth at the World Cup in Lucerne. 

They will go in the second semi-final at 3:42pm on Wednesday. 

In the women's pair, Ireland's Imogen Magner and Natalie Long finished fourth in their heat but still progressed to the semi-finals as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers. The Lee Valley Rowing Club duo crossed the line in 8:03.42, nearly 20 seconds behind heat winners Romania with Lithuania in second and Italy in third. The other two heats were won by USA and China. They will go in the first semi-final at 3:27pm on Wednesday.

Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney finished fourth in their heat of the men's pair but their time was not fast enough to progress to the semi-finals. They will go in Wednesday's C final.

On Tuesday, the Irish men's and women's fours along with the men's and women's quadruples will all race in their heats.