McGourty family donate Alex’s boat to competition
THE Call of the Wild Sligo Schools Kayak Competition in association with Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership took place on the Garavogue River recently and it was another brilliant event.
A record number of students took part from across the county in the competition, which is organised by Tommy Craddock from Sligo Grammar School.
The family of the late Alex McGourty, who sadly died after a kayaking accident in Ecuador while pursuing his dream of being a kayak instructor, have donated Alex’s boat to this year’s winning school, Summerhill, where Alex (19) was a past pupil. Each year the winning school will receive the use of his boat for the coming year. As a touching tribute to Alex, who was a member of Sligo Kayaking Club, his family kindly presented his Liffey Descent Boat to the winning school, Summerhill College.
The Call of the Wild Sligo Schools Kayak Competition saw a record 46 students from five schools take part in a series of kayak races in beautiful autumnal weather.
For both the Ursuline College and Sligo Community Training Centre, it was their first time to take part in this event, only having started kayaking this year through the Urban Outdoor Adventure Initiative.
John Barrett from Wild Wet Adventures generously sponsored the Ursuline College the use of Kayaks, wetsuits and safety equipment for the event, with Sligo Grammar School Kayak Club supporting Sligo CTC students. Presentation of medals and t-shirts, kindly sponsored by Call of the Wild, took place afterwards at Sligo Grammar School Kayak Clubhouse.
Students would not have the opportunity to take part in this sport without the dedication of the teachers who give up their free time to run the after school kayak clubs and activities. This dedication is offering students greater opportunities to try new sports and develop lifelong skills.
Results
Short Course Junior B Final
1. Daniel Tiernan ,Summerhill College 2. Fionn Kelly ,Summerhill College
3. Niall Sweeney, Summerhill College
Short Course Junior A Final
1. Conor Paul , Athlone Community College 2. Finn Grennan , Sligo Grammar 3. Cameron Kilcoyne , Sligo Grammar
Short Course Senior B Final
1. Hadley Scott, Sligo Grammar
2. David Gray , Summerhill College 3. Niall Mc Morrow , Summerhill College
Short Course Senior A Final
1. Matthew White , Sligo Grammar 2. Rory Mc Veigh , Summerhill College 3. Ben o Reilly , Summerhill College
Short Course Girls Competition
1. Tara Mc Laughlin , Sligo Grammar 2. Hadley Scott , Sligo Grammar 3. Orna Woodrow , Ursuline College
Long Course Open Competition
1. Conor Paul , Athlone Community College 2. Matthew White , Sligo Grammar
3. Finn Grennan , Sligo Grammar
Long Course Girls Open Competition
1. Tara Mc Laughlin , Sligo Grammar 2. Hadley Scott , Sligo Grammar 3. Lauren French , Ursuline College
Promising Paddler Awards
Joey Bree, CTC Sligo
Jeffrey Hession, Summerhill College Dillon Hogan, Sligo Grammar Lauren French, Ursuline College
Best Overall School (Alex McGourty Liffey Descent Boat)
Summerhill College (28pts).
The Call of the Wild Sligo Schools Kayak Competition in association with Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership as part of the Urban Outdoor Adventure Initiative.