Two wins and a second place in yesterday's heats made it a good day for the Irish team at the World Rowing Championships at St Catharine's near Toronto.

Worrries about Tony O'Connor's back problems caused the withdrawal of the entry in the heavyweight pair, but yesterday O'Connor and Neville Maxwell took control from the start in the heat of the lightweight pair, relegating Germany and the United States to second and third places. The Irish pair will now compete in the semi-finals on Friday.

The performance of the men's lightweight quadruple scull in winning their heat was just as welcome: Germany had taken the silver to Ireland's bronze at the World Cup regatta in Lucerne, but yesterday Ireland beat their rivals into second place, securing a place in the A final.

Germany did, however, edge out Ireland in the lightweight double scull, taking first with the Irish double of Niall O'Toole and Derek Holland in second. The Irish now go into the repechages.