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RTÉ News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Fiona Murtagh takes World Cup silver, Fintan McCarthy and Konan Pazzaia claim bronze
Fiona Murtagh won women's single silver at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne on Sunday morning, with Fintan McCarthy and Konan Pazzaia taking bronze in the men's double sculls A final. Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Murtagh was pipped to gold by Great Britain's Lauren Henry; the Dane Frida Sanggaard Nielsen had to settle for third. It was a carbon copy of the European Rowing Championships final earlier this month which was won by Henry, with Murtagh second and Sanggaard Nielsen behind her. The two Irish crews went head to head in the men's doubles sculls final after coming through their respective semi-finals on Saturday. Paul O'Donovan and Daire Lynch were up against McCarthy and Pazzaia. McCarthy and O'Donovan won back-to-back Olympic golds in the lightweight double sculls at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, but the former was paired with Pazzaia in Switzerland, and they delivered a strong showing to earn a top-three finish. O'Donovan and Lynch crossed the line in fifth.
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Irish rower Fiona Murtagh hails coach for talking her into ‘new era I never foresaw' after bitter Olympics heartbreak
FIONA MURTAGH knew after her Paris woe that she needed some time alone — she just never expected it to be in a boat. The 29-year-old is in Lucerne this weekend for the World Rowing Cup as one to beat after 2 Rower Fiona Murtagh poses for a portrait during an OFI Media Conference Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile 2 Fiona Murtagh in action during the Women's Single Sculls A Final at the 2025 European Rowing Championships Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile Murtagh — who won her heat yesterday to qualify for the semi-final in Switzerland — claimed Olympic bronze as part of the coxless fours in Tokyo but is now bringing home precious metals in the single sculls. She told SunSport: 'It's a new chapter that I never foresaw. I didn't see it happening. I used to actively avoid being in a single. 'If they ever asked if I'd like to go out in a single, I would say 'No!' ' And it was never an ambition of hers either — despite watching former Irish world champion Sanita Puspure shine on the biggest stage. Read More on Olympics She said: 'It was just never a strength of mine. I'd look at Sanita and it would be, 'Fair play girl! But not for me!' And now, here we are. It's funny how things work out.' The agony of the The pair went to Vaires-sur-Marne among the favourites having medalled in every event in the build-up. But their form simply deserted them on the day. Most read in Other Sports Murtagh said: 'It was just massively disappointing, especially after having such a good season going into it. 'We were going from strength to strength and it just didn't happen. We don't know why it didn't happen.' I worked late shifts at a Land Rover factory but hated it so much it inspired my Olympic dream, says Galal Yafai next . And getting back in the water was not appealing to the Galwegian. But Rowing Ireland head coach Dominic Casey had different ideas and reckoned the solitude of a solo rower was what Murtagh needed. Murtagh explained: 'It was difficult post-Paris. But I'm thankful to my support network, the girls, my family and the people around me who brought me through it. 'After two Olympic cycles, I just felt so tired and I didn't know what to do with it anymore, or what I could give. 'But I have to credit Dominic for giving me the space , being incredibly patient and staying firm. 'I asked to get out of the single and he was, 'No, you're sticking to it'. He could see it. 'He had the vision and could see it long before I did.' 'HARDEST PART' And it meant a lot of solitude. Murtagh was not used to being in a boat on her own at the National Rowing Centre in Farran, Co Cork . She said: 'That was the hardest part of it, doing the session on your own. Even if there was someone else on the water, a faster boat, or some of the lads, anyone . . . doing intensity sessions completely solo at 7am, you're like, 'What am I doing?' 'It was like a vulnerable space. I didn't want to do it because I didn't think I had the skills to be honest. 'But I needed to come face to face with how I am as an athlete and what am I good at, what do I need to improve on and how can I improve that? 'Being in the single helped answer those questions.' The evidence was soon there as the competitiveness that was always in her came to the fore. The rookie single sculler quickly proved she is one of the best in Europe . 'We may not be rowing together but we're still in tandem!' She said: 'I didn't know what I was going to do after Paris and I didn't expect the single to be the answer to it. But I'm glad that it was. 'I'm really enjoying the journey of it all and it's just giving me that new freshness. 'It's feels almost like day one. I'm competitive anyway. 'Even if I go in saying, 'I'll see what it's like', I'll quickly be like, 'I want a medal'. 'It was great, even at the Europeans, but there is so much that I can still grow.' And while she is now alone in a boat, it is very different on dry land. Her Tokyo WhatsApp group is still going strong with support for her new solo pursuit. And her Paris partner Keogh is seen as much as if they were still on the water together. Murtagh said: 'I've started working in JP Morgan — there is an athletes programme through Sport Ireland. 'Aifric is there too. We haven't left each other's lives. 'Even the day I was at the Europeans and won silver, Aifric did the women's mini marathon and had her medal from the 10k. 'We Facetimed after I was on the podium so I'm there with my silver medal around my neck from the Europeans and she had her medal. 'We may not be rowing together but we're still in tandem!'
Irish Examiner
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
No Paul O'Donovan as Ireland crews named for 2025 World Rowing Cup
Paul O'Donovan will not feature for Rowing Ireland at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne as the crews are named for the 2025 event. Bronze medal winners at the European Rowing Championships Fintan McCarthy and Daire Lynch will row in the M2x while in the M4x will see Ronan Byrne, Brian Colsh, Adam Murphy and Andrew Sheehan compete. Fiona Murtagh, who won silver in the European Rowing Championships, and Alison Bergin will compete in the W1x with Siobhán McCrohan going in the LW1x event. Margaret Cremen and Zoe Hyde are paired for the W2x. Claire Feerick, Aisling Hayes, Imogen Magner and Natalie Long will row in the foursome W4 event. In the PR2 Mix2x Sadhbh Ní Laoighaire and Tiernan O'Donnell will team up and will compete in the PR3 category for classification pruposes. The competition will take place from June 27-29. Speaking ahead of the competition High Performance Lead Coach Dominic Casey said 'Lucerne is one of the standout events in the rowing calendar. "The squad selected brings together a mix of youth and experience, and it's a key opportunity for us to benchmark against world-class crews as we look ahead to the next major test.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fantastic gold-medal winning debut for Warrington rower in European Championships
Cam Nyland, second from left, with her women's quadruple sculls crewmates receiving their gold medals on the podium in Plovdiv (Image: Benedict Tufnell for British Rowing) WARRINGTON'S Cam Nyland is a European champion! The former Lymm High School student returns home from Bulgaria with a gold medal around her neck after a hugely successful debut with the senior Great Britain rowing team. Advertisement Nyland, the latest elite talent from the Warrington Rowing Club production line, competed in the women's quadruple sculls alongside three Leander clubmates in Plovdiv and together they produced a European Championship best time in Sunday's final. Warrington's Cam Nyland, second from left, with pure joy on their faces after winning European Rowing Championships gold in Bulgaria (Image: Benedict Tufnell for British Rowing) On a dominant opening weekend to the international calendar, the 25-year-old and her crew contributed to GB topping the championship medal table with a total 28 of the country's rowers being crowned champions of Europe. Nyland was alongside Paris Olympics medallists Lola Anderson and Becky Wilde as well as fellow senior GB debutant Sarah McKay. Advertisement And highlighting how well this new awesome foursome have gelled in the boat, Anderson said: 'It is one of the quickest runs I've ever done in a women's quad, so we're happy to come away from the first race of the new Olympic season with gold and already be pumping out quick times. 'I think it is testament to how much strength and depth there is in this new team, and we're not finished yet.' Warrington's Cam Nyland, second from right, on the water in Plovdiv (Image: Benedict Tufnell for British Rowing) Nyland has been full time for the last couple of years at Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire. Advertisement She is no stranger to the international stage, having competed in the Under 23 European Championships in 2023, winning the B final in the women's double sculls. But the successful debut at senior standard will be considered another step on her aim to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, following in the footsteps of the club's two current Olympians Richard Egington and Lucy Glover. Nyland started out in the sport at Lymm High School in 2013, quickly signing up with Warrington Rowing Club. It was during the Covid-19 pandemic that her dedication to the sport reached new heights as she set out to explore her athletic potential. Advertisement Alongside her rowing, she pursued a degree in forensic psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University – showing her ability to balance her studies with her rowing aspirations. Nyland has launched her own beauty business and her blend of academic achievement, entrepreneurial spirit, and sporting dedication highlights her drive to succeed in whatever task she sets her sights on. Warrington Guardian has previously reported some of the misfortune she has suffered along the way, which held her back with her rowing goals for a while. When she was 17, she had a car accident on the way to her final training session before the National Championships and that put her out for about six weeks. Advertisement She had some problems with breathing when she was 18, which went undiagnosed for quite a while. And in the biggest race of that year she fell out of the boat on the finish line at the National Schools Regatta after fainting due to breathing difficulties. And when Nyland was 21 she missed out on her first Great Britain call-up due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. After training 15 times a week for 18 months, she was not able to compete for GB Under 23s in the World Rowing Championships in Czech Republic as she was forced into self-isolation as a result of a club practitioner testing positive. That is all behind her now though and making her senior GB debut shows how determined she is to overcome any hurdles and reach the top. Advertisement The only way is up from here! Meanwhile, fellow former Lymm High School student and Tokyo Olympian Lucy Glover was not named among the 39 rowers representing GB in Bulgaria. A British Rowing source said she 'may well be back' in action either later this season, or next.
Irish Examiner
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Murtagh wins silver while McCarthy and Pazzaia claim bronze at the European Rowing Championships
Fiona Murtagh has won silver in the Women's Single Sculls at the European Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria with Fintan McCarthy and Konan Pazzaia claiming bronze in the A final of the Men's Double Sculls. Murtagh claimed silver in a time of 7:21.11 in mixed conditions with a headwind at the start and a tailwind over the final 600 metres. She showed composure and consistency to almost match her heat time exactly. McCarthy and Pazzaia won Ireland's first medal of the regatta when the duo secured broze in the Men's Double Sculls. The pair were in medal contention throughout the race holding off a strong challenge in what was a tightly contested race. This marks McCarthy's first international medal in an openweight boat and it is a first senior championship medal for Pazzaia. Jake McCarthy finished fourth in the A final of the Lightweight Men's Single Sculls and closed with the fastest 500m of the race in a time of 7:01.45. In the A final of the Lightweight Women's Single Sculls Izzy Clements finished fourth on her senior debut which was an excellent result after holding a top three position for much of the race. Mags Cremin and Zoe Hyde finished fourth in their A final of the Women's Double Sculls posting a time of 6:55.73 which was just 3.77 seconds off a podium finish in what was a fast and competitive race. The newly formed crew of Claire Feerick, Natalie Long, Aisling Hayes and Alison Bergin finished fourth in the B final of the Women's Quadruple Sculls with a time of 6:28.50 weehich was a significant improvement from their heat. The Men's Quadruple Sculls of Andrew Sheehan, Adam Murphy, Ronan Byrne and Philip Doyle finished fifth in their B final delivering an assured and consistent campaign. Ross Corrigan and Daire Lynch finished third in their B final in the Men's pair with a time of 6:26.50. Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland, was delighted with the team's performance. "It was an honour to be on the ground in Plovdiv supporting our athletes at the 2025 European Rowing Championships. Across the board, we saw determination, resilience, and world-class performances from our crews. Fiona Murtagh's silver medal today in the Women's Single Sculls was a standout moment, as was the superb bronze from Fintan McCarthy and Konan Pazzaia in the Men's Double Sculls yesterday." "To come away from the European Championships with two medals, five A Final appearances, and encouraging performances from newly formed crews and systems, under the guidance of world-renowned coach Dominic Casey, is a testament to the strength and depth of our High Performance Programme. I'm immensely proud of our athletes, coaches, and support staff. These results reflect the hard work and commitment that takes place every day behind the scenes. A sincere thank you to our clubs, partners, and supporters who continue to play such an important role in our journey."
