European medallist Colsh competes in schools event
Changed format for SSRP Sligo Schools Indoor Rowing Blitz
BALLYMOTE teenager Brian Colsh, a silver medal winner at September’s European Rowing Junior Championships with the Irish Junior Men’s Quadruple Scull team in Belgrade, was among the participants in the Sligo Schools Indoor Rowing Blitz earlier this month.
Colsh, who studies at Coláiste Muire Ballymote, won the Boys Open 2,000 metres category, taking 6:29 to complete this distance.
The Sligo Schools Indoor Rowing Blitz, organised by Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership (SSRP), saw an altered format this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Last year the schools involved gathered at one venue for a one-day event. But 12 months later each school held an event at its own facilities, times and distances were recorded by an official from SSRP. The details from each of the 10 participating schools, with nearly 500 participants, were then collated to give the overall results.
The schools that registered to take part had between December 10 and December 18 to stage an indoor rowing event using their own indoor rowing machines or those provided by the organisers.
There were categories for boys and girls in the following age groups: U-14, U-16 and U-18. For each grade the rowers had five minutes to clock up as many metres as possible.
There was also an open competition for experienced rowers where the distance was defined – 2,000 metres – and participants were graded according to how long it took them to row this distance.
School staff were also encouraged to get involved – male and female teachers were each given a challenge of five minutes on the rowing machine. Theresa Kilgannon, Sports Development Officer with Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership, said: “This event could not have happened without the support of the schools and the teachers who got onboard to provide this opportunity to their students and helped make the event happen in a safe way.”
“I would especially like to say well done to the 71 teachers who took part, they have set a very good example for their students by getting involved and getting active.”
The Sligo Schools Indoor Rowing Blitz was highly praised by Thomas Coggins, deputy principal at Ballymote’s Corran College.
He said: “What a fantastic event. It involved all students, regardless of their sporting ability, and gave our students a much-needed lift in a time in which sport is taking such a hit with Covid-19. The event created a great buzz of excitement.”
The first Sligo Schools Indoor Rowing Blitz was held in October of 2019.
TOP FIVE: 1, Sarah Walsh (Coláiste Muire Ballymote) 1,260 metres; 2, Ceoilín Byrne (Ursuline College) 1,189 metres; 3, Anna Tiernan
(Mercy College) 1,179 metres; 4, Hazel Kennedy (Ursuline College) 1,160 metres; 5, Ella Clarke (Ursuline College) 1,135 metres
TOP FIVE: 1, Isabella Michalopoulou (Ursuline College) 1,166 metres; 2,
Orna Murphy (Ursuline College) 1,164 metres; 3, Sophie Ryan (Mercy College) 1,163 metres; 4, Amelia O’Riordan (Mercy College) 1,162 metres; 5, Caoimhe Rattigan (Mercy College)
1,162 metres
TOP FIVE: 1, Adam Fox (Summerhill College) 1,348 metres; 2, Oran Mitchell (Summerhill College) 1,348 metres; 3, Paul Jinks (St Cecilia’s School) 1,345 metres; 4, Luke McGowan (Coláiste Iascaigh) 1,337 metres; 5, Malachi Holder (Corran College) 1,326 metres
TOP FIVE: 1, Keri Mitchell (Ursuline College) 1,213 metres; 2, Ellen McGuire (Coláiste Iascaigh) 1,208 metres; 3, Kayla McGowan (Coola Post Primary School) 1,159 metres; 4, Emily Richardson (Coola Post Primary School) 1,128 metres; 5, Katie Flannery (Ballinode College) 1,102 metres
TOP THREE: 1, Brian Colsh (Coláiste Muire Ballymote) 6:29; 2, Ciaran Dolan (Ballinode College) 7:34; 3, Aidan Lockhart (Ballinode College) 8:01
TOP THREE: 1, Orla Kavanagh-Beirne (Mercy College) 8:02; 2, Roise Spoorenberg (Mercy College) 8:22; 3, Diya Ryan (Ursuline College) 9:09
TOP FIVE: 1, Paul Mulvaney (Coláiste Iascaigh) 1,430 metres; 2, Pat Tuohy (Summerhill College) 1,429 metres; 3, Patrick Bamber (Sligo Grammar School) 1,414 metres; 4, P McGarry (Coola Post Primary School) 1,408 metres; 5, Keith Raymond (Coola Post Primary School) 1,406 metres
TOP FIVE: 1, Lorraine Hosey (Coola
Post Primary School) 1,253 metres; 2, E McCarthy (Mercy College) 1,217 metres; 3, Sarah Murphy (Coláiste Iascaigh) 1,186 metres; 4, K Ruane (Mercy College) 1,178 metres; 5, A Hannon (St Cecilia’s School) 1,168 metres