Ireland claim silver at World Coastal Rowing Championships

Monika Dukarska took silver at the World Coastal Rowing Championships in Thonon in France. The Ireland solo sculler was defending the title she won last year in Monaco, but this time out she had to give way to Diana Dymchenko of the Ukraine.

Dymchenko won by sprinting into an early lead on the generally calm waters of Lake Geneva and holding on to it for the rest of the six kilometres. Dukarska gave chase and was the only realistic challenger, but it was a battle she fought in vain.

“To be honest I was a bit disappointed. I left everything out there; there seemed to be no way of closing the gap,” Dukarska said.

The Killorglin rower was annoyed with the amount of wash from the motor boats alongside the race which hit the competing craft side-on. She would have preferred sea conditions. “It is a very nice venue, except for the lack of waves,” she said.