Choppy waters for Kerry’s coastal rowing crews
THERE is an eerie silence on the coastal waters from Fenit to Kenmare days as the muffled sound of oars crashing into the water and the encouraging voices of rowers going through their training routines are no longer part of the seascape in South and Mid Kerry.
Rowing crews in the region should currently be preparing for another energy sapping regatta season but for the moment the restrictions imposed due to Covid-19 has cast a cloud over the sport.
While it is hoped there will be some easing of restrictions, and the possibility of rowing later in the season, rowers who have been training in the gym and keeping fitness levels ticking over are eagerly looking forward to getting on the water.
“The sporting world has been rocked and it’s the same for our rowing clubs and regatta committees that are awaiting direction from the HSE and Ministers in relation to our 2020 season. In Kerry the chairman of the South and Mid Kerry Board, Gearoid King, and the chairman of the Kerry Coastal Rowing Board, Andrew Wharton, are both in an agreement that safety comes first and we are awaiting the HSE directives,” said Mary B. Teehan, PRO of the South and Mid Kerry Rowing Board.
The schedules for the Coastal Rowing season in South and Mid Kerry were completed earlier in the year. An extensive programme of seven regattas for 2020 is due to commence on June 21st in
Caherciveen and every weekend up to and including August 9. The regatta venues are Sive, Cromane, Templenoe, Callinafercy, Valentia and Portmagee.
“When we look back to last season we had some fantastic Four Oar races. A feature of last years rowing was the senior ladies who had the biggest entry in the history of our beautiful sport. Everyone was looking forward to more exciting action on the water again in 2020 from our beginners at Under 12 level to the Seniors,” Teehan said.
The Seine Boat caught the imagination of the public during the 2019 season with Sneem making it two in a row for the coveted Johnny Mahony Trophy. They will be strongly challenged for the 2020 title by Caherciveen,
Valentia and Cromane.
The Kerry Coastal Rowing Board has One Design Regattas featuring two County Championships fixed for Sneem and Fenit.
Flesk Valley have a One Design Regatta for the first time scheduled for Killarney in July.
All thirteen clubs in the Kerry Coastal Rowing Board are governed by the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation (ICRF ) and these regattas are the qualifying regattas for the 2020 All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships which are due to take place in Dingle on August 21 to 23.
“Sneem and Fenit clubs put in huge preparations to host these regattas in a laned course which takes a lot of work, preparation and time,” Teehan explained. “These are very competitive regattas with the Killarney clubs taking on the might of the South and Mid Kerry clubs. The ICRF have asked all clubs to stay off the water until further notice. However, the preparation for the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Regatta in Dingle must continue until the bigger decisions are made including if we can get on the water for 2020 season. As the Dingle date is late August we would be hopeful that we can host this prestigious regatta. This championship, started in 1992, has grown to be a spectacular event with thousands of viewers tuning in every year on the live feed to watch their club and their members fight for the coveted titles.”
Rowers have an interest in all Kerry sports but their passion goes up a notch when it comes to their own particular sport, Coastal rowing.
“This is a sport where there is no place to hide in a boat. You’re either good enough or you’re not, but most importantly you must try your best. For all the men and women who put in the long hours training, sorting out club fund raisers, sorting out boats, preparing oars and boats for the new season, the current Covid-19 shut-down is a major blow to them.
“For now we want our rowers, our clubs and regatta committees and their families and friends, supporters and sponsors all safe and well. These are the back-bone of our beautiful sport. While all is silent at the moment, we will get together again when the timing is right, but for now we agree to stay apart and keep everyone safe.”