Jenny Egan takes World Cup silver in the Czech Republic

Dubliner takes second prize after a tight finish in the 5,000, canoe sprint in Racice

Jenny Egan on the podium alongside Britain’s Lani Belcher and Italy’s Irene Burgo
Jenny Egan on the podium alongside Britain’s Lani Belcher and Italy’s Irene Burgo

Jenny Egan took silver for Ireland at the canoe sprint World Cup in Racice in the Czech Republic. In a tight, three-boat finish of the K1 (racing kayak) 5,000 metres, Egan was headed by Lani Belcher of Britain. Irene Burgo of Italy took bronze.

“I try to take gold, but Lani just held me off,” the 29-year-old Dubliner said. She took a bronze medal in the European Championships, also in Racice, in 2015, and won World Cup medals in 2010 in Hungary and 2011 in Racine. “I like this venue, it’s been good to me,” she said.

The Salmon Leap paddler, who missed out on Olympic qualification in both 2012 and 2016, will compete at the final World Cup in Portugal next weekend, and in the European Championships in Moscow on the final weekend of June.

Canoe Sprint World Cup, Racice, Czech Republic (Irish interest; selected result). Women: K1 5,000 - 1 Britain (L Belcher) 22 min 38.471 seconds, 2 Ireland (J Egan) 22:39.238, 3 Italy (I Burgo) 22:39.718.

Liam Gorman

Liam Gorman

Liam Gorman is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in rowing