Maharees’ tradition at its best

A GREAT day’s racing, sportsmanship and skill was on display at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday.

Crews travelled from Galway, Clare and Cork to join the Kerry crews in the first regatta of West Kerry’s naomhóg racing seasonand. The large crowd enjoyed the racing and the sunshine, while keeping one ear on the Munster final.

A north westerly breeze featured strongly in the racing, particularly in the senior women’s race in which three of the five crews were caught in a tangle early in the race leaving the crews from Camp and Dingle to fight for first place. The Dingle ladies won by a narrow margin and both the Camp and Dingle crews admitted afterwards that they have more training to do.

Maunza Heidtke spoke of the wind that blew them from the first to the second buoy which was “on them before they knew it”. The day wasn’t bad said Camp’s Eileen Quirke, and we were glad to be able push the Dingle crew to the last, as we have not had a chance for too much training yet”.

The senior men’s race was an exhibition of rowing at its best as the winning Maharees crew displayed skill and endurance beyond their years in a tightly fought competition. The race was run over two rounds of the course and while there were several crews on the water all the attention was on the first two boats. The race was very close with on one occasion just three feet between the young crew and the pursuing naomhóg with a crew led by Jackie Goodwin. The race was settled when the young crew pushed and held the second placed crew into rougher water and held them until they were confident of beating them in a sprint for the finishing line.

After the racing the prize giving and raffle were carried out at the Green Room Bar – where contestants and friends enjoyed the barbecue, and some traditional music.

MAHAREES REGATTA WINNERS Under 18: Maharees/Dingle( Patrick Hussey, Jamie Granville, Seilí Lynch, Orla Goodwin). Under 14: Maharees (Conor O’ Leary, Lauren Goodwin, Emer O’ Donoghue, Alan O’ Leary). Ladies 4 Hand: Dingle (Maunza Heidtke, Aoife Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Elaine Waters, Gillian O’ Brien) Under 12: Brandon (Siobhán Ní Lyne, Fionnuala Ní Cháthasigh, Darragh Quirke, Timmy Cleary) Men’s 4 Hand: Maharees (John Joe Hussey, Patrick Hussey, Sean Scanlon, Colm O’ Connor) Under 16: Maharees (Vincent Hussey, Alyssa Heasman, William Goodwin, Orla Goodwin) Single Hand: Eoin Honan Under 16 (crews drawn): Alyssa Heasman, Siobhan Lyne, William Goodwin, Seamus Lyne Confined to Parish (crews drawn): Ailíse Deane, Trish Browne, Paul Browne, William Goodwin. Mixed Race (crews drawn): John Joe Hussey, Mairtín Mac Gearmain, Ailíse Deane, Maunza Heidtke Best oarsman: Patrick Hussey Best oarswoman: Maunza Heidke