RowingRising northern stars Chris Black and Joel Cassells finished second in the men's pair A final on Sunday, second only to under-23 heavyweights Sean O'Connor and Eddie Mullarkey of NUIG, at the Ireland Assessment at the National Rowing Centre in Cork yesterday.

Bridget Jacques showed courage and class while Skibbereen’s Paul O’Donovan stayed on course to have a tilt at a medal at the World Junior Championships where he finished fourth last year. Sanita Puspure took another step on what she hopes will be a road to an Olympic place. Jacques took second place to Puspure in the women’s singles final in very testing, windy, conditions. Hanna McCarthy and Hanna O’Sullivan of St Michael’s won an exciting A final of the women’s pair.