ROWING:Ireland's two crews at the Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne in Switzerland vaulted over the need for a repechage and moved directly from their heats into semi-finals yesterday.

Sanita Puspure had a slow start in the heat of the women’s single scull, but in the final 100 metres she won a battle with Tale Gjoertz of Norway to take the crucial second spot.

The top six crews which come through tomorrow’s semi-finals will fight for four places in London.

Mark O’Donovan and Niall Kenny will have a smaller target of just two places to aim for if they make it through to the final of the lightweight double scull.