Olympic silver-medalist Paul O’Donovan is the standout absentee from the Irish team that will travel to Lucerne for the 2019 European Rowing Championships that will take from 31st May – 2nd June.
O’Donovan is continuing his academic studies and exams running up to early June, however he continues to train and will be available for the rest of the season after the Europeans.
Paul’s brother Gary is in the team for Lucerne, along with world champion Sanita Puspure.
Rowing Ireland’s High-Performance Director, Antonio Maurogiovanni said: “After the international Regatta in Piediluco held four weeks ago we are proceeding with the preparation which is going towards the competition phase through the European Championships.
“This is a tough event where most of the European countries reach the first peak in order to perform at their best.
Our Ireland team is coming out from the winter preparation and ready to perform at its best. It is a good solid test for all our crews.
“We have few medical issues but I am confident that all the team’s members will be in good shape to show some good competitive speed.”
Ireland’s Crews Competing:
– W1x Sanita Puspure (Old Collegians)
– W2x Monika Dukaraka (Killorglin), Aifric Keogh (UCC)
– M2x Ronan Byrne (UCC), Phil Doyle (QUBBC)
– Lw2x Walsh Denis, Lydia Heaphy (Skibbereen)
– Lm1x Gary O’Donovan (Skibbereen)
– Lm2x Fintan McCarthy, Jake McCarthy (Skibbereen)