Egan and Simmons become first Irish gold medalists at ICF Ocean Racing World Cup

JENNY Egan-Simmons and Jon Simmons left their first ever International Canoe Federation (ICF) Ocean Racing World Cup in Madeira, Portugal with gold medals in the mixed doubles.

Competing in a first international ocean race, Jenny Egan-Simmons and her husband Jon Simmons completed the grueling 29km race from Funchal to Calheta in Madeira in style last Saturday.

Lining out in the SS2 Mixed Double category on October 7, this was a new discipline for both the Salmon Leap athletes, and it required a slightly different skillset to sprint and marathon racing.

Lucan native Egan is a multiple World Cup medalist, World Championship medalist and European Championship medalist in both sprint and marathon.

Whereas Simmons, who is originally from the United Kingdom, is also a Marathon World Cup medalist for Great Britain before making the move to Ireland.

Instead, the duo leaned on their endurance to get them across the course on the rough Atlantic Ocean waters for the Madeira challenge.

Conditions in the Atlantic Ocean proved to be particularly challenging, with a max elevation of 6m swells recorded and blistering strong winds howling across the sea during the race.

It was increasingly more difficult too with air temperatures topping out at 31 degrees and an energy sapping humidity to boot.

Despite all the conditions working against them, Egan-Simmons and Simmons worked tirelessly to cross the finish line in pole potion.

This meant that the pair created a piece of history, becoming the first gold medalists for Ireland in an ICF Ocean Racing World Cup event.

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