Hayes aiming for final place

ROWING: Lightweight single sculler Orla Hayes made it through her repechage yesterday to give Ireland a chance of a second A finalist at the World Under-23 Championships in Hazewinkel in Belgium.

The 20-year-old student from Skibbereen finished third yesterday after a less than satisfactory start and knows her form will have to improve if she is to make it through today's semi-finals.

The men's four, which made it directly to tomorrow's A final, yesterday got the boost of seeing Greece and Belarus, who they had beaten in Thursday's heat, win the two repechages. These two crews, along with heat winners Ireland and the Czech Republic, should be in the shoot-out for the medals tomorrow.

Three of Ireland's crews will make their exit today: the men's lightweight double held the third qualifying spot for much of their repechage but were fourth at the end and will compete in the C final; the lightweight quadruple (third) and men's coxed four (fifth) are in B finals.

The coxed four's performance drew praise from team manager Ciara Ní Cheilleachair and Ireland coach Harald Jahrling, as they are a junior crew gaining experience for next month's World Junior Championships.

"They rowed much better than yesterday; raced much better and were a few seconds faster. It was quite pleasing," said Ní Cheilleachair, who spoke of them as a "mature bunch". "They're looking good for the junior worlds now."