Head of the River event.
SLIGO ROWING CLUB HOST HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE. PICS: DONAL HACKETT.
SLIGO Rowing Club’s Head of the River event took place on the Garavogue river on the 16th of February. Conditions on the day were bright and cold but winds caused the course to be shortened to 2500 meters. Crews and athletes travelled from Athlone Boat Club, Carrick Rowing Club, City of Derry Boating Club, Galway Rowing Club, Offaly Rowing Club, and Queens University Belfast Boat Club. Two races took place, the first kicking off at 11am and followed by the second at 2pm.
A Head of the River is a time trial in which boats row in sequence over the 2,500 meter course. Boats slipped from Doorly Park and gathered at the mouth of Lough Gill. As athletes approached the final 1,000 meters, just as fatigue set in, they passed Doorly Park, where the cheers from the watching spectators encouraged them to dig deeper and finish strong.
ALL competitors who took part gave a strong performances on the day, and Sligo Rowing Club did not disappoint on their home stretch of water with some outstanding results. Alannah Donohoe took 1st place in the Womens junior 15 with a fantastic time of 9:55.6 minutes. Brian Colsh and Kilian McCarthy both competed in the Mens junior 18, this category was very competitive and Brian easily took 1st place with a time of 8:24.5 minutes, while Kilian finished strong in 5th. Womens Senior double took 1st place with a powerful performance by Erin O’Connor and Siofra Kellehr. Men’s Junior 18 quad Naoise Walsh, Angus Carter, David Murry, and Andrew Waters were unfortunate not to win but came 2nd. Glenn Patterson took 1st place in the Mens intermediate comfortably with a fast time of 8:30.2 minutes Roisin Walsh gave a great performance and came 4th in the highly competitive Womens junior 18 category. Brian Colsh and Kilian McCarthy took to the water again to compete in the Mens junior 18 doubles, they narrowly missed 1st and same 2nd with a time of 8:30.7 a spectacular performance by both. Two crews entered the Womens senior quad. Sligo B crew Rosie Spoorenberg, Isabella Michalopulou, Jeanette Michalopulou, and Ave Murray put in a fine performance and placed 2nd . While Sligo A crew Diya Ryan, Ailish Duggan, Mine Ryan, and Sarah Tighe surged ahead to take 1st place.
THE fastest boat down the course for each head is traditionally given a special accolade. The honour of being the fastest on Head 1 was taken by City of Derry Boating Club’s G’Urso and R Kennedy, and Head 2 was taken by Sligo Rowing Club’s Glen Patterson. A Social Rowing event took place this year, all social rowing crews rose to the challenge and put in some fantastic performances on the 2,500 meter course. Crews were delighted to get out and race and thoroughly enjoyed the days festivities.
AS always an event like this could not happen without people who volunteer their time. This year we had over 30 volunteers working on the day to ensure it ran smoothly. Special acknowledgement must be given to parents of club members, the Order of Malta, Brendan Kelly, Martin O’Connor, David Smith, Peter Osborn, Aiden Tinsley for their assistance. WINNERS for Head 1
WOMENS Junior 14 single scull – R Byrne (Offaly RC), time 10:50.3
WOMENS Junior 15 single scull – A Donohue (Sligo RC),time 9:55.6
MENS Junior 18 single scull – B Colsh (Sligo RC), time 8:24.5
WOMENS Master single scull - M Nicbhloscaidh (City of Derry BC), time 10:33.7
MEN’S Junior 14 double scull – Athlone BC, time 9:24.6
MENS Masters double scull - City of Derry BC, time 7:47.0
WOMEN’S Senior double scull – Sligo RC, time 10:23.5
MEN’S Junior 18 quad scull – Athlone BC, time 8:16.0 MENS Masters quad scull – Galway RC, time 8:24.6 MENS Junior 16 quad scull - Athlone BC, time 8:39 WINNERS for Head 2
MEN’S Intermediate single scull - G Patterson(Sligo), time 8:3.2
WOMENS Intermediate single scull - M Nicbhloscaidh (City of Derry BC), time 10:36.1
MENS Junior 14 single scull - F Bagnall Condron (Offaly RC), time 11:21.5
MENS Junior 15 – M Morrison (City of Derry BC), time 11:59.3
MENS Junior 16 – C Lynam (Athlone BC), time 9:23.1 WOMENS Junior 18 single scull - S Murtagh (Carrick RC), time 9:41.1
MENS Masters single scull - G D’Urso (City of Derry BC), time 8:25.8
WOMENS Junior 14 double scull - Offaly RC, time 10:13.6
MENS Junior 15 double scull - Athlone BC, time 8:47.0
MENS Junior 18 double scull - Athlone BC, time 8:30.4
MENS Masters quad scull - Galway RC, time 8:23.6 WOMENS Senior quad scull - Sligo RC, time 9:42.8 MENS Junior 14 quad scull - Athlone BC, time 9:30.4