The 2022 World Rowing Coastal Championships are from October 7 until October 16, and Ireland is already paving the way to victory.
This event has over 500 athletes participating from 24 different countries. Ireland has 18 different clubs signed up with 52 crews competing in their respective categories over the weekend.
On the first day of rowing, four women qualified for the women’s solo A Finals. The Castletownshend women’s coxed quad reserved their spot in Sunday’s medal race.
In the women’s solo, Miriam Sheehan of Castletownbere and Xena Jordan of Arklow both qualified. The first heat of the women’s solo was in very difficult conditions with poor visibility. The heat was won by 2018 and 2019 champion, Diana Dymchenko of Azerbaijan. Sionna Healey of Arklow qualified in fourth place, and Monica Dukarska of Killorglan qualified in fifth place.
“I had a crash with Spain coming into the third buoy, which set both of us back really. The conditions are challenging, especially from the third to the fourth buoy, the crosswind and the cross waves – it feels like the waves are short, so you can’t ride them as well. I thought I would never get to buoy number four. But after that it’s fine, it’s just that patch is quite challenging.” Dukarska explained how she handled the inclimate weather.
What a fantastic weekend of racing at the World Rowing Coastal Championships 2022 💪 🏴
It's been brilliant to see so many countries come together to #bringonthewaves 🌊
📸 @WorldRowing / @Ben_Rodford#BringOnTheWaves pic.twitter.com/Duhk9oYG1z— World Rowing Coastal Championships 2022 (@wrcoastals22) October 9, 2022
On the final day of racing in Pembrokeshire, they gave medals to seven crews. Ireland has a few 2022 World Rowing Coastal Champions already.
For the Coastal women’s quadruple sculls, Karen Hickey of Castletownshend received a bronze. For the coastal women’s double sculls, Monika Dukarska of Killorglin won silver. They got off at the beginning of the race for a good lead, but a few waves threw them off, “That’s the unpredictability of it” she explains.
The next race will occur this Friday, October 14-16 for the transition to the 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprints Finals.
