In challenging hot conditions on day six of the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, Rowing Ireland’s Fintan McCarthy and Philip Doyle secured a brilliant bronze medal in the Men’s Double Sculls. Fiona Murtagh from Moycullen continued Ireland’s strong performance, winning her semi-final to reach Sunday’s A Final in the Women’s Single Sculls, while several other crews delivered encouraging results in the B and C finals.
M2x | Fintan McCarthy & Philip Doyle
The Men’s Double of Fintan McCarthy and Philip Doyle secured a brilliant bronze medal after a determined race. The duo sat in second place for most of the contest, pushing the pace from the early stages. Despite a powerful late surge from Serbia that moved them into second, the Irish crew held on strongly to claim third place with a finishing time of 06:15.13.
W1x | Fiona Murtagh
Fiona Murtagh delivered a commanding performance to win her semifinal and qualify for Sunday’s A Final. Leading from the start, Murtagh extended her advantage to three seconds by the 1500m mark and remained the fastest boat on the water in the closing stages. She crossed the line in 07:29.61.
A Final: Sunday, 28th September – 7:17 am IST (Lane 4)
M1x | Konan Pazzaia
Konan Pazzaia finished second in the C Final of the Men’s Singles. After a tightly packed start that saw him in fifth place at 500m, he steadily moved through the field, climbing to third at 1000m and into second by 1500m. He maintained that position to the line, finishing in 07:04.08.
W2x | Mags Cremen & Zoe Hyde
The Women’s Double of Mags Cremen and Zoe Hyde claimed victory in the B Final after a dramatic sprint finish. The pair held second for much of the race amid a close battle with Uzbekistan and the USA. In the final 250 metres, they unleashed a powerful push to move into first place and secure the win with a time of 07:00.20.
W4- | Natalie Long, Emma Waters, Aisling Hayes & Imogen Magner
The Women’s Four produced a strong performance to finish third in the B Final. Sitting in fourth place at the halfway point, they surged into third by 1500m and continued to close the gap on second-placed Canada with a spirited sprint to the line. They finished with a time of 06:48.01.
Rowing Ireland Crews Racing on Saturday, 27th September
PR2 Mix 2x | Tiarnán O’Donnell & Sadhbh Ní Laoighre (B Final) - 6:05 am IST (Lane 3)
LW1x | Siobhán McCrohan (A Final) - 7:33 am IST (Lane 4)
LM1x | Jake McCarthy (A Final) - 7:50 am IST (Lane 1)
"I am immensely proud of our athletes and the performances they have delivered throughout the week,” said Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland. Fintan and Philip’s determination to secure a bronze medal today at the World Championships reflects the strength, dedication, and resilience within Rowing Ireland. Across all boats, we are seeing remarkable talent and commitment, which gives us great optimism as we build towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. We will continue to support and invest in our athletes as the Championships progress this weekend and beyond. I also want to congratulate Dominic, our dedicated coaching team, and all the clubs whose support has contributed to this remarkable success."
“The performances we have seen throughout the week are a testament to the dedication of our High-Performance athletes, coaches, and support staff. I want to warmly congratulate Fintan and Philip on their outstanding bronze medal performance today at the World Championships, which reflects their incredible skill, determination, and resilience. The results so far this week reflect the hard work and commitment shown by all members of Rowing Ireland — from athletes and coaches to clubs and volunteers — who make these successes possible,” said Jane Williams, President of Rowing Ireland.
