World gold for Leonora

Editorial Department • Published 19 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Leonora Kennedy on her way to a gold medal at the World University Rowing Championships which were held in Szeged in southern Hungary at the weekend.

Enniskillen’s Leonora Kennedy has added to her growing reputation as a rower of world class by winning a gold medal at the World University Rowing Championships which were held in Szeged in southern Hungary at the weekend.

Leonora, who also won a gold at the World U23 Rowing Championships last year, was representing GB in the coxless fours event and they won the gold medal from 10 other countries.

28 nations were represented in total at this event which is held every two years.

Indeed, the stiff competition was not the only adversary as the weather was most unlike Fermanagh with the temperature to 39 degrees each day with wind that didn’t bring any respite to the rowers.

As such then, it was tough going although the first heat on Friday was rowed with a strong tailwind and Leonora and her crew won this well which allowed them to progress directly to the final without having to go through any further races in the debilitating heat.

The final on Sunday was rowed in to a strong headwind which could have made steering difficult but Leonora, steering from the bow seat, kept the boat well on course and they led from the first stroke.

The main threat was expected from Romania who are a regular force in world rowing and were well used to these continental conditions but they were unable to make any ground on the GB crew who absorbed their one big attack at the 1000 metre mark and then pressed on themselves.

Italy made a valiant attempt to close the gap but by the three quarter way mark at 1500 metres it was GB’s race to lose.

But that was never in any real danger of happening and Leonora and her colleagues held on for stunning win by over three seconds.

In addition to the previously mentionned crews, South Africa, Netherlands and Canada finished behind the GB students who come from four colleges - Durham, Imperial college London, Kingston and Loughborough.

Indeed, three of this crew had won at the World Under 23 championships last year and so had the ability to handle the big occasion.

All in all, it was another fantastic achievement for Leonora and while their form in training had indicated that they would be hard to beat, as in all sport, you need to deliver on the day that

And, that is exactly what Leonora and crew did.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 19 Aug 10

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