Rowing nationals not on
SLIGO Rowing Club received the devastating news during the week that the National Rowing Championships which were previously rescheduled for September are now cancelled owing to ongoing concerns of Covid-19. Like many clubs throughout the country training was intensifying in a bid to be in peak condition for the national event. Athletes now must reset their aspirations for a “Championship Pot” for 2021 as the 2020 season winds down for the club.
To lift spirits, the club attended a small regatta at Lough Rynn last Saturday on what only can be described as the perfect venue with perfect conditions with not a breath of wind on the 8 lane course and in glorious sunshine all day. The race of the day was undoubtedly David Murray’s Junior 15 single scull race, winning his race in the last 3 strokes by a bow ball with Tara Dunbar and Alannah Donohoe proving to be a very effective double which was trialled for the first time on the day. A new Junior Boys combination of Darrragh Colsh, James Muldoon, David Murray and Rohan Nolan with cox Ella Clarke also proved to be a crew with potential for 2021.
Sligo Rowing Club will hold a small invitational regatta for Saturday August 22nd to mark the end of what indeed has being a testing and unusual season. Thankfully the 2020 season however will be remembered for the just selection of Brian Colsh’s inclusion in the Irish Junior Men’s coxless quad which will compete at the European Junior Championships.
Sligo Rowing Club would like to thank the Byrne brothers of Mammy Johnston’s, Strandhill who stepped up and answered the call to provide sponsorship to Brian Colsh to help support his endeavours to represent his country at the European Junior Rowing Championships in Serbia in late September. Brian is currently attending an 8 week training camp with the Irish squad at the National Irish Rowing Centre in Cork as they put their finishing touches to their junior quad before they depart for Belgrade. The Byrne brothers are no strangers themselves to international competition having represented their country at both European and World Surfing Championships on numerous occasions over the years and in so doing appreciate the challenges a young athlete can face.
They are therefore more than happy to sponsor Sligo Rowing Club’s emerging talent, Brian Colsh, as he embarks on European competition in what promises to be a fast Irish crew and a boat to watch.