Triumph for Dingle under blazing sun in Maharees

DINGLE senior mens and womens crews took the honours at the sun kissed Maharees regatta on Sunday. For the women it was almost a matter of course but for the men it marked a resurgence not seen since the last century.

All told, the Dingle Rowing club had a great day with victory in the U-12 and U-14 races as well as the senior men’s and women’s. For the senior Dingle men’s crew it was a notable achievement – not since the O’Connor brothers and Paud Quinn ruled the waves in the latter years of the last century has the West been victorious in the Maharees. This year the hard-won glory went to Niall Flannery, Davin Lynch and Jamie Granville who were joined by William Goodwin of the Maharees to complete the crew.

In a keenly fought race the Dingle men managed to keep ahead of the second placed crew from Clare, who were not giving in without a fight.

Meanwhile, adding to her many victories over 30 years of naomhóg racing Monza Heidtke steered the crew of Gillian O’Brien, Elaine Waters and Ellen Dunleavy past the line to win the senior women’s race.

World champion coastal oarswoman Monika Dukarska from Killorglin attended the regatta, the former ITT student discussed with the oarsmen and women her intensive training schedule, dietary recommendations and was generous with her tips including the use of insulating tape on the inevitable blisters and cuts.

The ten, evenly balanced, senior and underage races ran smoothly on a perfect summer’s day in the Maharees.

The next regatta to be held in West Kerry will be in Ventry on July 29.

Photos by Declan Malone RIGHT: World rowing champion Monika Dukarska from Killorglin at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday, chatting about training and rowing techniques with local oarspeople, including former naomhóg racing champion Joan Maguire and current champion Monza Heidtke, who has won the senior women’s naomhóg race at every regatta in West Kerry and beyond for almost as long as anybody can remember.

The hard pull to the first buoy in the parish race at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday.

ABOVE: Orla Goodwin climbs down to her place in a naomhóg at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday.ABOVE, RIGHT: Colette O’Leary and Bridget Wrenn on the pier between naomhóg races.

Photo by Declan Malone Photo by Declan Malone Photo by Declan Malone Photo by Declan Malone Local ladies Betty Scanlon and Bridget Wrenn at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday. Abby O’Sullivan, Annie O’Neill, Lauren Goodwin and Zoe Moriarty at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday. Mikey O’Leary at the point of no return as he takes the plunge from Maharees pier on Sunday. William Goodwin was one of the local competitors at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday.

Photo by Declan Malone Photo by Declan Malone Dingle oars-girls Summer McCarthy, Kila Massett, Rachel Nic Anrí, Emily Fitzgerald, Sarah Ní Chonchúir, and Naomi Gardiner at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday. World rowing champion Monika Dukarska from Killorglin with Dingle oarsman Niall Flannery (left) and Maharees Regatta committee members, Jackie Goodwin, Barry Heasman, Micheál O’Leary and John Hussey at the Maharees Regatta on Sunday.