Holland and Casey in semi-finals

ROWING/World Championships: The lightweight men's pair of Derek Holland and Neil Casey were the only Irish crew of four to make it directly through to the semi-finals on the opening day of the world championships for non-Olympic events in Banyoles, Spain.

With semi-final places available for the top-three boats in the heats, Holland (30), and Casey (23), finished a comfortable second behind Simon Carcagno and Michael Altman of the United States to secure their place at the penultimate stage on Friday.

The two Dubliners finished fifth in last year's world championships, but the standard in this event this year is high, so qualification for the final is not guaranteed.

Tim Harnedy of Skibbereen knew his chances of avoiding a repechage in his heat of the lightweight single scull were slim.

The 21-year-old Skibbereen athlete faced world champion Stefano Basalini of Italy and France's Fabrice Moreau, with only the race winner making it straight through to the semis.

Though Harnedy won two national junior titles as a single sculler, he has had mixed results in the single since losing his place in the Olympic-bound lightweight four this year.

He sculled well yesterday, and slotted into third, holding his place while easing off after half way as Moreau and Basalini fought it out, with the Frenchman prevailing.

In today's repechage (11.50 Irish time), Harnedy must finish in the top two of four, with the Ukraine's Oleksandr Serdyuk and Spain's Ramirez Canseco the main dangers.

Sinead Jennings also faces a repechage today (11.30 Irish time) after a third-place finish in her heat. Germany's Nina Gaesler, the hot favourite to take gold on Sunday, won a battle with Minna Nieminen of Finland to take the sought-after first place.

Jennings failed to overcome a poor start and was 10 seconds further back.

If the Donegal woman can finish in the top three of five today, she will still have the chance of adding to the gold medal she won in this event in 2001.

The men's lightweight quadruple scull must wait until tomorrow for their repechage after finishing fourth in a heat won impressively by form crew Canada.

While they are an ambitious group, three of the Ireland crew - Kenny McDonald, Diarmaid Mac Colgain and Herbie Griffin - are competing in their first World Championships and stroke-man Brian Young has only one to his credit.