Hussey ends campaign with letdown

A disappointing fifth place in the B final, which would place him 11th in the world in single sculls, provided a downbeat finish to the World Junior Championships in Ottensheim in Austria for Offaly's Padraic Hussey.

Hussey ended up over six seconds off the pace in Saturday's race. "He was disappointed not to be in the A final," said his coach Frank Durkin in explanation. "And it was his fourth high-intensity race of the four days." Temperatures were again in the 30s centigrade.

Estonia's Leonid Gulov, who had less than three seconds to spare on Hussey in winning their semi-final, won gold in the A final. Austria's Sebastian Sageder, who pipped Hussey in that semi-final for third place and a place in the A final, was fourth. Germany's Matthias Weiss took second place.

Germany, however, won six of the 14 titles on offer and just how seriously they treat this competition can be seen in their preparation. "They send their juniors to six regattas over the summer," said Durkin.

Along with Padraic Hussey, Commercial's Emmet O'Brien may also be a disappointed Irish sculler this week. O'Brien has been in the senior lightweight quadruple scull which has taken part in the World Cup regattas this year. But the quad chosen by the Irish selectors to compete at the World Championships next month sees Fermoy's Gearoid Towey step in for O'Brien.

Veteran Lady Victoria sculler John Armstrong will also be disappointed, as will the two other men who took part in the trials at Blessington on Saturday, Eugene Coakley of UCC and Commercial's Donal McGuinness.

Teenager Owen Byrne will stroke the quad, with his brother Neal Byrne in the three seat, Niall O'Toole (two) and Towey (bow) completing the line-up.

Details: World Junior Championships at Ottensheim, Austria - Single Sculls: A Final - 1, Estonia (L Gulov) 7 mins 11.11 secs; 2, Germany 7:13.34; 3, Australia 7:15.27. B Final - 1, Denmark 7 mins 14.30; 2, Britain 7:16.65; 3, Czech Republic 7:18.11, 4, Switzerland; 5, Ireland (P Hussey) 7:20.37; 6, Japan 7:26.35.

Men's Lightweight Quadruple Scull (to rep resent Ireland at World Championships in Cologne): O Byrne (stroke), N Byrne, N O'Toole, G Towey (bow).