Last-gasp prep before crews leave for Wexford

IN terms of prestige, Fenit’s County Championship Regatta had it all as far as coastal rowing was concerned on Sunday – and the Workmen and Flesk Valley clubs proved themselves to be in rude health, taking more than half of the day’s 26 titles between them.

With the All-Ireland championship in Wexford just over a week away, it was a final opportunity for crews to get to grips with the one-design boats; it’s a vessel not traditional to these parts, but it’s the kind that will be in use in Wexford.

With that in mind, 15 clubs took to the waters of Fenit, all grappling with the unfamiliar boats whilst under the added pressure that comes with competitive racing.

Alongside Flesk Valley, Workmen were the big winners, scooping seven titles on the day. The Killarney-based club triumphed in the pre-vet ladies, under-18 ladies, veteran men, under-21 ladies, and senior men’s races, as well as mixed races at both senior and veteran levels. Flesk Valley, likewise, were seven-time winners in the pre-vet men, junior men, under-21 men, under-16 girls, intermediate men, under-14 mixed, and intermediate ladies races.

There were also memorable performances by the other competing clubs: Fossa (three wins), Templenoe (three), Sive (two), Sneem (two), and Cromane (one) all took winners’ silverware themselves, while hosts Fenit won the day’s opening title, the under-18 boys competition.

“The regatta was a classic, giving us close finishes, grit, determination and, above all, the will to win,” county rowing veteran Mary B Teahan said.

“All in all, it was a fantastic day of rowing, and the Kerry Coastal Rowing Board wish to thank Fenit Rowing Club and to take this opportunity to wish all our clubs who are travelling to the All Ireland Coastal Rowing championships in Wexford the very best of luck. These crews will be flying the flag for Kerry Coastal, and we want all clubs to get behind each other”.

FRONT: Cromane novice women and novice men – gold and silver medallists respectively. BACK: Caitriona Scales, Tracy O’Connor, June Cunningham, Muireann Joy and Breda Hayes. David Morris, Ian Cunningham, Karl McCarthy and Tom Gill.

Workmen under-18 ladies gold medallists from left: Annie O’Donoghue, Miriam Fleming, Ellen Farrenden and Sarah O’Leary.

Templenoe Master Mixed Crews. BACK: Bridie McCarthy, Eileen Cremins, Donal O’Sullivan, Dan O’Sullivan, Ann O’Sullivan, Craig Van De Venter. FRONT: Pat Foley, Ryan Van De Venter, Martin Reilly.

Flesk Valley veteran men silver medallists: Denis O’Donoghue, Chris Slattery, Tadhg Kelly (cox), Donal Kelly and Paul Burke.

Fossa under-21 ladies silver medallists: Sarah O’Shea, Roisin Murphy, Conor Griffin, Rebecca O’Connell and Ellen Sheehan.

Sive under-12 ladies gold medallists from left: Rachel Fogarty, Sharon Goggin, Padraig O’Shea, Aoife Looney and Holly Galvin.