Jennings pipped but still targets gold

ROWING:AMERICAN JULIE Nichols surprisingly pipped Sinéad Jennings on the line in the semi-finals of the World Championships for non-Olympic events in Linz in Austria yesterday. The two women, along with third-placed Lindsay Jennerich of Canada, go into tomorrow's final of the lightweight single scull.

Ireland's two other crews, the lightweight pair and the men's coxed pair, face into B finals after finishing fourth and sixth respectively in their semis.

Jennings had been beaten to the gold by Jennerich in their last outing, at the World Cup regatta in Poznan, Poland, but the Irish woman dominated for much of this race and opened up a big gap on Jennerich. Indeed, the Canadian had to fight off Italy's Laura Milani to be certain of third.

Nichols clung on to Jennings's coat-tails for most of the race - but then charged at 1,750 metres and pushed again near the line.

"I knew she had a good finish, so I wasn't totally shocked. I suppose I'll be more prepared for that the next day. I thought I had enough," said Jennings.

The first semi-final produced a real shock. Austria's Michaela Taupe-Traer, third in Poznan and a heat winner at this event, was pushed out of the top three. Spain's Teresa Mas de Xaxars pipped her for third by .31 of a second in a race won by Switzerland's Pamela Weisshaupt.

Jennings, whose aim is a gold to add to the one she won in 2001 in Lucerne, identified Weisshaupt, Nichols and Jennerich as her main rivals tomorrow. "I'll do a good last 500 (metres)," quipped the Donegal woman.

On a day of dramatic races, the first semi-final of the lightweight pair did not disappoint. Switzerland's Simon Niepmann and Mario Gyr stopped dead close to the finish and lost their third place to Austria. Swiss stroke man Tomic needed medical attention afterwards.

Ireland's Eugene and Richard Coakley had disputed fourth with the Austrians from half-way to the closing stages. "We had a good row," said Eugene Coakley.

He said he had been disappointed to lose his place in the lightweight four last month, but the last four weeks' training and competing with his brother had been "brilliant" and given him a new impetus for the coming season.

The men's coxed pair will also fight for a placing in the B final after playing their part in a tight-fought semi. Canada were clear winners, but for much of the race the other five crews all had real hopes of qualifying. Ireland were in third at 500 metres and halfway, but they were displaced by the Ukraine soon afterwards. Then Australia came through from sixth, and these two took the qualifying spots behind Canada. The US, who held second place for most of the race, lost out on qualification by .29 of a second.

Two young athletes who did well at the recent National Championships could end their season on a high as part of Ireland's team for today's Home International in Cardiff. Rory O'Connor (21) of Offaly and Skibbereen's Mark O'Donovan (19) are entered in the single scull and the lightweight single scull respectively.

"The men's team should do well," said team manager Lisa O'Callaghan.

Orlagh Duddy of Belfast is entered in the women's lightweight single scull.