Sport

Paul and Gary O’Donovan qualify for Double Sculls final at Henley

The O’Donovans will meet the Britain heavyweight double in the final on Sunday

Spectators gather to watch the rowing at the 2018 Henley Royal Regatta alongside the river Thames. Photograph: PA
Spectators gather to watch the rowing at the 2018 Henley Royal Regatta alongside the river Thames. Photograph: PA
Liam Gorman
Sat Jul 07 2018 - 16:07

Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan beat the heavyweight Romanian double to qualify for the final of the Double Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta on Saturday.

In temperatures which reached into the 30s, the Skibbereen lightweight crew started well, but so did Ioan Prundeanu and Marian-Florian Enache. The two crews sculled side-by-side - until the O’Donovans, with little apparent effort, sprinted away and opened a big gap.

The O’Donovans held their lead to the end. They received very voluble support from the big crowd in the enclosures.

In the final on Sunday, the O’Donovans, who wore headbands with the colours of the Irish tricolour, will meet the Britain heavyweight double. Angus Groom and Jack Beaumont beat Ari Strandli and Kris Brun, the Norway lightweight double, in their semi-final.

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Henley Royal Regatta, day four (Irish interest; selected results)

Double Sculls (Open) semi-final: J Beaumont, A Groom bt K Brun, A Strandli ¾ l; G O'Donovan, P O'Donovan bt I Prundeanu, M-F Enache 2¼ l.

Liam Gorman

Liam Gorman

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