VARTRY ROWERS SHINE AT OCEAN TO CITY RACE

in first place in both categories, was made up of Paddy Byrne, Anthony Quinn, Massimo de Luca, Tommy Hamill and coxswain Gillian Mangen, who rowed the Craig Ddu.

The ‘Vartry Challenger’ crew, which finished in second place in both categories, was made up of George O’Brien, Joe Quinn, Shay Dunne, Wally McKenna and coxswain Ray House, who rowed the Brandon.

The cherry on the top of the club’s cake came in the form of a crew from Portugal, who had borrowed a One-Design Boat from the Vartry Rowers, also winning its category.

Vartry Rowing Club has dedicated the success and pride of both crews to their chosen charity ‘Console’ and the magnificent work it does for those affected by suicide.

The club would like to sincerely thank everybody who has supported its fundraising efforts on behalf of Console. Members would also like to Thank New Quay Rowing Club in Wales and the Airport Police and Fire Service Rowing Club from Dublin who each loaned the club a Celtic Longboat to compete in this race.

Vartry’s next competitive outing will be in the Castle to Castle Race in Angelsea, Wales, where members will be row 12 miles through the Menai Straights from Beaumauris Castle to Carnarvon Castle on Saturday, June 25, next. There was celebrations at Wicklow Toastmasters recently when Grainne O’Kane completed her Competent Communication Manual.

Grainne is now the latest member of the Wicklow Toastmasters Club to deliver ten speeches. She is now free to move on to the Advanced Manuals.

At the club’s last meeting a number of members from the Greystones Toastmasters club joined them and Paddy Lavelle entertained and moved all present with her emotional and personal ‘ The Night at the Ball’ speech.

Michaela Avlund, also from Greystones, was the efficient timer on the night.

The next meeting is the penultimate before the summer break and is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday, June 16), at 8 p.m. in the Grand Hotel, Wicklow town.

An interesting event is planned with speeches, table topics (impromptu speaking), poetry, word of the day and of course, speech evaluations.

Visitors are welcome and need not participate but only enjoy.