- Sean Drea
- A Carlow Olympian
- 1972 Munich & 1976 Montreal Single
Sculler (Rowing)
- Sean Drea 1987 in the USA
Sean Drea
born in Bagnalstown, Educated St. Joseph's Academy Muine-Bheag
(Bagenalstown) Represent Ireland in the 1972 Munich Olympics in the
Single sculls rowing , he gave a strong performance ending 7th. In 1973
won 1st place at the Henley Regatta, he topped this with winning the
same event in 1974 and 1975, his record speed at Henley was not broken
until the 1990’s. He gave Ireland a high standing in rowing by winning
Silver in the world Championships.
During this period he also suffered
near kidney failure, but regained heath and competed in the 1976
Montreal Olympic. In the first semi final in Canada Drea crossed the
finish line just eight seconds short of seven minutes, shattering the
record over 2,000 metres. But the final was less rewarding as Drea was
beaten out of the medal positions when he cracked in the third quarter
of the race and was pushed into fourth position, the greatest
disappointment of his career.
He later became a Coach for the Fairmount Rowing Association in
Philadelphia, Coaching John Riley of the US at the World Championships
in 1989 and 1991.
- Sean Drea is third from the left, photo
taken at Fairmount Rowing Association 1993
Thomas J. Kearns
A Carlow Olympian
1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona & 1996
Atlanta 110m Hurdles
Thomas J. Kearns, was born in Rathvilly Co County Carlow 2 June 1966
to James (Jim) Kearns and his wife Pauline (nee Bolger), Thomas is known
more by his just T.J. Kearns, made his mark on 110m Hurdles, he won many
an event at County level and then with National events, gaining enough
points to compete internationally at the Olympics, and world & European
Championships.
Sports played a bit part in his family as his brother
Linus played football for both the local Rathvilly and County teams His
first games at Olympic in Seoul of 1988 failed to bring top marks, but
this changed at the Barcelona Olympic, in 110m Hurdles 1st round he came
in at 13.63secs, 2nd round 13.78secs with 7th place in the quarter
finales, he improved his scores at Atlanta 1996 coming 3rd in the 1st
round with 13.67, but dropped to 5th in the 2nd round with 13.55 secs.
He
also was the Irish contender in the European Championship coming 7th in
the semi final of 1990 games, the 7th position became to dominate Kearns
scores as with the Europeans the World Championships at Tokyo in 1991
gave Kearns a 7th position in the semi finals. He held the Irish Record
of 13.55 sec until Peter Coghlan took the record by shaving over 8
second off the record. He improved his score in the Europeans
championships of 1994 coming in 3rd in qualifying heats, but dropping to
6th in heat two.
Kearns Nationally dominated the 110m hurdles at the Irish Republic
indoor Championships, (The all Irish event) for most of the 1990’s,
today he is a part time TV presenter for Athletics.
Source:
Terry Curran
Team Ireland
November 10 2021
WORLD SILVER MEDAL
FOR FINN LYNCH
Barcelona
Ireland's Finn Lynch Wins
Silver and Best Ever Result For Irish Sailing at World Championships
In Spain After a frustrating wait for wind on the final day, Ireland's
Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club) has won Silver at the Laser World
Championship in Barcelona today (Wednesday 10th November 2021).
Although the Carlow sailor finished the regatta with
the best scores across all eight races, New Zealand's Thomas Saunders
took Gold after allowance for worst race discard was applied. Lynch's
Silver at World championship level is the best ever achieved by an
Irish sailor in any Olympic discipline. This year's world championship
was beset by light winds that delayed or postponed racing since last
Friday.
However, Tuesday's racing saw Lynch deliver
his best day yet that ended with a race win. "Finn has delivered an
impeccable regatta and realised his full potential after years of
dedication and hard work," commented James O’Callaghan, Performance
Director with Irish Sailing. "It would be tempting to imagine what
another day of racing might have achieved but Silver and the best
performance of any of the 135 athletes at the regatta is everything we
could ask of him."
Fresh winds were forecast for Wednesday to
complete the regatta when a duel between Saunders and Lynch was on the
cards but the weather again failed to deliver and Tuesday's overall
results remain unchanged. “I'm extremely happy with the result but it
didn't come by co-incidence or some luck - it came after a lot of work
after not being able to qualify for the Olympics which was really hard
on Finn," commented Vasilij Zbogar, the Slovenian triple Olympic
medallist who is Laser coach with Irish Sailing. "This was something
that Finn needed so that he can start to believe.
He was good already last year but
mentally he wasn't ready to be in the front. This week was really
solid sailing all week and he didn't make any mistakes. He had the
lowest point score of the entire fleet meaning he was really
consistent."
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