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ROWING CREWS PREPARE FOR CELTIC CHALLENGE
The number of rowing crews from Ireland and Wales expected to descend on Arklow for the
Celtic Challenge event this week
APPROXIMATELY 23 rowing crews from all over Ireland and Wales will descend on Arklow tomorrow (Thursday) in advance of this year’s Celtic Challenge event, a 90 nautical mile rowing race from Arklow to Aberystwyth in Wales.
As the May Bank Holiday looms ahead anticipation and excitement are reaching their peak at over 22 clubs who will enter crews into the gruelling race that is set to depart Arklow on Saturday afternoon.
Crews from the local region from Arklow, Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire, Malahide and Wexford will all make their way to the coastal town where they will enjoy a night of rest on Thursday before the weekend’s festivities.
They must be prepared to depart on Friday is weather conditions require, otherwise Saturday at 2p.m. for ladies, mixed and miscellaneous crews and 4p.m. for men’s teams will remain as the departure times.
Arklow Rowing Club the dedicated ladies’ team prepare to defend their title for the fourth time in The Celtic Challenge.
The race, which is one of the toughest endurance challenges in the rowing community takes place every two years and the Arklow Rowing Club ladies are proud to have such an excellent track record. Two years ago when 10 of the 22 boats which departed had to turn back due to terrible weather conditions the Arklow ladies ploughed ahead to finish the race in 25 hours.
This year crew members Tilly Jordan, Deirdre Maghery, Jessica Lee, Amy Snell, Lora Kavanagh, Emma Fitzgerald, Sandra Dunbar, Tamara Penston, Maeve Tyrrell, Jeanne O'Gorman, Vanessa Annesley and Lisa Mellon will battle it out on the course from Arklow to Aberystwyth in Wales and only time will tell what conditions they will be rowing in.
The crew has plenty of backup with their lead boat ‘ The Halsion’, skippered by Ronan