BBC NI at the Olympics

Image source, Getty Images

Tyrone rower Rebecca Edwards and Chloe Brew have progressed to Wednesday's semi-finals of the women's coxless pair after finishing third in their repechage event on Monday.

The pair recorded a time of 7:37.11 at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

The Denmark boat won in 7:34.57, followed by Spain with 7:38.98. New Zealand were fourth and were eliminated.

The GB crew will join the Czech Republic, Romania, Netherlands, Greece and Denmark in their semi-final at 09:54 BST on Wednesday.

Edwards, 30, from Aughnacloy, also took part in the Tokyo Olympics as part of the women's eight and last year was part of the GB crew which won gold at the World Cup in Lucerne in the women's eight.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium

Image source, Inpho

Ireland’s men are set to face Australia in their second game of Pool A in the hockey.

After a 2-0 defeat by Belgium it doesn’t get any easier for Mark Tumilty’s side as the world number 3 side are next on a beautiful morning in Paris.

The temperature is expected to rise to the high eighties as the day goes on so both sides will be pleased to have the early start.

The first weekend of action has been extremely well received by the hosts, France, who have won a number of medals so far.

From a Northern Ireland perspective, three of our big medal hopes, Rhys McClenaghan, Hannah Scott and Rebecca Shorten have all reached their respective finals in gymnastics and rowing and Philip Doyle looked really good on the lake as well.

This morning we will see what shape Daniel Wiffen is in when he makes his Paris debut in the pool in the 800m freestyle heats and Danielle Hill will be looking to make the semi-finals of the women’s 100m backstroke.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at the Paris Olympics

Image source, Getty Images

Monday blues? Not in Paris!

It's been a busy start to the Paris Olympics for athletes from Northern Ireland, and day three is no different.

Let's take a look at who will be in action on the third day of competition.

At Le Defense arena, which has provided one of the best atmospheres at the Games, Ireland swimmer Daniel Wiffen is in action for the first time in the Games.

The 23-year-old is one of three world champions from Northern Ireland at the Olympics - along with gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and rower Hannah Scott, who have both already been in action.

Wiffen is set to be in the fourth 800m freestyle heat around 10:30 BST and will also compete in the 1500m on Friday. He is world champion in both events.

Danielle Hill, who was in Ireland's women's freestyle relay on Saturday, will go in heat three of the 100m backstroke at 10:15 BST.

Later in the pool, Sligo swimmer Mona McSharry is in contention to win Ireland's first medal of the Games in the 100m breaststroke final.

After a disappointing heat, Rebecca Edwards will go in the repechage for Team GB in the women's pair.

At the hockey, Ireland take on Australia while the Women's Rugby Sevens team face Australia in their final Pool match before a placing match later on Monday.

Conor Hall will be competing for Team GB in the team archery competition while Ireland's eventing jumping team round out their Games in the equestrian.

It's been a difficult start in the ring for team Ireland but reigning Olympic champion Kellie Harrington will make her Paris bow against Italy's Alessia Mesiano.

Image source, Inpho

Mona McSharry qualified second fastest for the final of the women’s 100m breaststroke.

The Sligo swimmer impressed in her heat and then improved her Irish record to 1:05.51 in the semi-final to finish second behind Tatjana Smith from South Africa.

She will now return to La Defense Arena to compete in Monday's final at 20:25 BST.

The 23-year-old will hope to improve upon her eighth-place finish in the final in Tokyo three years ago.

Image source, Getty Images

Great Britain's men sit second in Pool A after a 2-2 draw with South Africa in the hockey.

Team GB, who are captained by David Ames of Northern Ireland, trailed twice in Paris.

Phil Roper and Rupert Shipperley were on target to rescue a draw.

GB defeated Spain 4-0 in their opener and there are three matches remaining before the knock-out stages.

Image source, Inpho

It's been a difficult start to the Paris Olympics for Ireland's boxers.

Dean Clancy lost his opener on Saturday and Aidan Walsh followed on Sunday morning.

However, it was soon three defeats in three as Grainne Walsh was stunned by Anna Hamori of Hungary in the women's 66kg, losing 4-1 on judges’ cards.

However, Jack Marley has got Ireland on the board at the fourth time of asking. He defeated Matheusz Berezinzki of Poland 4-1 on the judges' scores.

Reigning Olympic champion Kellie Harrington gets in the ring tomorrow afternoon.

Image source, Inpho

Ireland's women recovered from losing their opening game in the Rugby 7s against Great Britian to beat South Africa 38-0 at the Stade de France.

Beibhinn Parsons scored the opening try under the posts after being found by Erin King.

Captain Lucy Mulhall Rock was accurate with the conversion but then went off injured before half-time.

Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe registered Ireland's second try just a minute after the break, dotting down after good work from Megan Burns.

Parsons then twice crossed the whitewash to add another two tries as Ireland began to run riot.

Vicki Kinkan touched down at the left-hand corner before Eve Higgins rounded off the scoring with a late try.

They are back in action tomorrow with their final Pool B game against Australia.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist at the Stade de France

Image source, Inp

Ireland’s women have lost their opening game in the Rugby 7s, going down 21-12 to Great Britain at the Stade de France.

Two tries from Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe, one of which was converted by Lucy Mulhall, gave Ireland a 12-7 half-time lead with Team GB’s points coming from a converted try from Isla Norman-Bell.

However tries in the second half from Jaz Joyce and Emma Uren, with Norman-Bell adding the extras for both, put GB into an unassailable lead.

Ireland will face South Africa later this evening.

An emotional Aidan Walsh reacts to his elimination from the Paris Olympics after a defeat by France's Makan Traore in the last-32 of the men's 71kg.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist at Vaires-sur-Marne

Image source, Getty Images

Rebecca Shorten is into her second Olympic final after stroking the Team GB women’s four to a comfortable heat win.

The quartet - Shorten, Esmee Booth, Samantha Redgrave and Helen Glover - pulled clear by the halfway point and eased to victory over New Zealand to move on to Thursday‘s final.

“We knew everyone was going to step up their game, it is an Olympics after all, but we were always confident we could move on and we did that,” said Shorten.

”We’ve definitely had the mindset of being favourites all the way through the season but if we worry about anyone else then we won’t perform to our best.

”It’s just about how fast we can go. I’m really looking forward to Thursday.”

Aughnacloy’s Rebecca Edwards and Chloe Brew found themselves in a very tough heat of the women’s pair. They finished fourth and will go into the repechage on Monday.

The Irish duo of Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh did clinch one of the three automatic places into the semi-finals.

Making their Olympics debut, Fermanagh’s Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney found themselves in a real scrap in the last 500m as four boats chased three places in the semi-finals of the men’s pair.

With a final sprint the Team Ireland duo edged out New Zealand for third and so avoided the repechage.

”We knew it was tight so all you can do is keep pushing hard for the line,“ admitted Corrigan.

”It was good to release some nerves and get the first race out of the way. We can now relax a little bit for the next couple of days but we are really looking forward to the semi-final. We are we’re we want to be,” added Timoney

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at the North Paris Arena

Image source, Getty Images

Aidan Walsh is out of the Paris Olympics after a defeat by France's Makan Traore in the last-32 of the men's 71kg.

Four judges favoured the French fighter, while one official scored the fight as a draw.

When the result was announced, Walsh held his opponent's arm up in the air as Traore took in the acclaim of the home support, who had been raucous throughout the bout.

Walsh, 27, was awarded a cagey first round, in which both fighters had to be reminded to engage - much to the disgust of the French support.

Traore was the aggressor in the second round, but every attempt to set upon Walsh was met with a resilient counter punch. However, all but one judge favoured the French fighter.

Walsh was caught early in the final and deciding round as the decibels rose in the North Paris Arena.

The Irish fighter was then docked a point for holding, and that gave Traore the buffer he required as he unanimously took the final round.

Walsh was the only medallist from Northern Ireland at the delayed Tokyo Games three years ago and returned to the ring for the Olympics after taking 14 months away from the sport to focus on his mental health.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Paris

Image source, Getty Images

Day one is in the books.

It's been a wet and wild opening to the Paris Olympics, both with the weather in Paris and the sports in which athletes from Northern Ireland have been competing.

Now, what does the second day of action have in store?

From rowing to boxing, let's take a look.

Aidan Walsh, the only athlete from Northern Ireland to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, is back in action on Sunday morning at 10:32 BST.

Walsh, who qualified at the final attempt after taking 14 months away from the sport, faces home favourite Makan Traore in a difficult draw in the last-32 of the men's 71kg.

There are plenty of rowers from Northern Ireland in action on Sunday. Rebecca Shorten will compete in the women's four alongside double Olympic champion Helen Glover (11:30 BST), while Rebecca Edwards will also be aiming to escape the heats in the women's pair (9:30 BST).

Fermanagh duo Nathan Timoney and Ross Corrigan take to the water for Ireland in the men's pair at 10:00 BST.

After a successful start in the hockey, David Ames will lead GB against South Africa in their second group match while Ashleigh Orchard could feature as Ireland start their Women's Rugby Sevens campaign against Great Britain at 14:30 BST and South Africa (18:00 BST).

Don't forget, you can stay right up to date with how athletes from Northern Ireland with our rolling page.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at the Bercy Arena

Team Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan has qualified for the final of the pommel horse after a strong qualification round at the Bercy Arena.

He posted the joint-highest score of the day with 15.200, and is safely through to the final next Saturday.

The 25-year-old joins Stephen Nedoroscik of the USA as the top qualifier, ahead of reigning champion Max Whitlock, who recorded 15.166.

McClenaghan had to wait until the fifth rotation before emerging for the pommel, but put in a confident routine with a difficulty score of 6.300 and execution of 8.900.

If qualifying scores were applied to the final and he finished level with Nedoroscik, McClenaghan would take gold due to a higher execution score.

GB gymnast Whitlock won gold in Tokyo three years ago as an error in the final led to McClenaghan finishing in seventh place.

The 25-year-old bounced back to win back-to-back gold medals at the World Championship in 2022 and 2023, and will look to add an Olympic medal to his collection when he returns to the Bercy Arena on Saturday.

McClenaghan is one of three world champions from Northern Ireland to compete at the Games in Paris.

Image source, Inpho

Ireland rugby sevens finished sixth in the Olympics after a 7-17 defeat against New Zealand in their placing play-off.

In a rematch of the final pool game in which New Zealand edged Ireland 14-12, Leroy Carter scored a try on three minutes to give the All Blacks the lead.

Ireland replied just before half-time with Chay Mullins evading the challenge of Carter and racing through on the left-hand side to touch down.

Mark Roche was accurate with the conversion to give James Topping's side the lead at the break.

However, New Zealand roared back in the second half with Brady Rush restoring their lead, darting through a gap to register their second try, although Akuila Rokolisoa missed the conversion.

Moses Leo extended their advantage by darting down inside the posts as New Zealand claimed fifth place.

Image source, Inpho

Ireland rugby sevens produced a late fightback to beat USA 17-14 in a dramatic placing play-off semi-final.

They were 14-7 down with just 50 seconds to go but late tries from Zac Ward and Terry Kennedy secured the win.

James Topping's side will now play New Zealand, who beat Argentina 17-12 after extra-time at 17:30 BST today in the 5th/6th place play-off.

Ireland, who were looking to bounce back from their quarter-final defeat against Fiji, which ended their medal hopes, went ahead early through Hugo Lennox.

He raced clear after collecting a pass from Sean Cribbin and then nailed the conversion.

USA, who lost to Australia in their quarter-final, drew level on the stroke of half-time with Aaron Cummings scoring a try in the corner and Steve Tomison converting from range.

They then edged ahead as Perry Baker touched down two minutes before the end with Tomison again accurate from the tee.

Ireland kept pushing with Ward powering over to bring them within touching distance of USA, but Mark Roche missed the conversion.

They managed to recover possession from the restart and with just one second remaining Kennedy held off a challenge and crossed to seal the victory.

Image source, Getty Images

Coleraine rower Hannah Scott has reached the final of the women's quadruple sculls event as part of the Team GB boat.

Scott and fellow crew members Georgina Brayshaw, Lola Anderson and Lauren Henry comfortably booked their place in Wednesday's final by taking victory in the second heat in a time of 6:13.35 at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre.

That time proved enough to see off the challenge of Germany (6:15.28) and Netherlands (6:17.12) and was the fastest recorded in Saturday's heats.

Scott is hoping to replicate her gold medal success at the 2023 World Championships.

Image source, Getty Images

Susie Berry from Banbridge, riding Wellfields Lincoln, has made a good start to the eventing at Versailles.

Her score of 33.00 in the dressage sees Berry sit in 13th position with half the field still to go.

Sarah Ennis was the first Team Ireland rider in action and posted a score of 38.00 with Austin O’Connor still to come.

It’s still early stages and Ireland are tied for fifth in the team event.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist at Yves-de-Manoir Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

On the main pitch this morning Team GB had an impressive 4-0 win over Spain in Pool B.

The squad is captained by Cookstown’s David Ames who is playing in his third and final Olympics.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist at the Yves-de-Manoir Stadium

Image source, Inpho

Ireland have lost 2-0 to Belgium in their opening game of Pool A.

The defending champions scored a goal in each half from Tom Boon and Alexander Hendrickx.

Ireland started well and were comfortable in possession but struggled to create many dangerous circle penetrations.

Irish goalkeeper Davy Harte was in world class form with a number of big saves that kept his side in the game.

“I think we started well and I think we were comfortable and settled into the game, but at the end of the day, I don't think we made enough chances,” said Irish captain Sean Murray.

”I think we need to be a little bit more direct in the next game to look at where we can try and find little areas around the circle, around the final third, and create a few more chances.

“We defended well, Davy had a fantastic game but we needed to created more chances.”

Many of the Irish players, including Murray, were making their Olympic debuts.

”It's been a long, long journey and it's always going to be a very special day with your friends and family over, maybe a few nerves, of course, it's only natural, but also just ready to compete and show what we can do on the world stage and the pinnacle of hockey.”

Ireland’s next game is against Australia on Monday,

“We've done our homework on each team and with Australia again, it's about going out and fixing little things. I think we have to be a little bit more direct and hopefully get a few goals.”