Success for SRC Juniors at event on the Shannon
SLIGO Rowing Club were again successful – in terms of crews and individuals – at the recent Limerick Junior Festival of Rowing, which was this year’s Rowing Ireland National Junior Championships, on the River Shannon at O’Brien’s Bridge (Limerick-Clare border). One of the regatta’s biggest highlights – from a Sligo perspective – was victory in the Women’s J15 Coxed Quad, with the Sligo crew overcoming the likes of Neptune (Dublin), St Michael’s (Limerick) and Galway’s Coláiste Iognáid. Sligo’s win was significant in that the crew’s preparations were hampered due to Covid-19 restrictions and members on holidays.
But their coach, Rory Clarke, got the team to produce a collec- tive effort that yielded first place. The successful crew consisted of Marieke Spoorenberg, Orlaith Kavanagh-Beirne, Julie Seery and Sara Walsh. Claire Walsh was the cox.
Claire Walsh was also in the cox’s seat for the Women’s J14 Coxed Quad, a category that Sligo Rowing Club’s entry took third place in.
For this race, the crew (which was only formed this year) consisted of Ellen Coen, Kate O’Donovan, Alyssa Cassidy and Emma Walsh. This was an excellent result for a crew in their debut race.
In the individual races, Sligo Rowing Club’s star was Ella Clarke – she took top spot in the Women’s J14 Single Scull. Urged on by her dad, Rory, as well as coaches Tom Colsh and Molua Donohoe, Clarke made a
surge for the line over the final 200 metres.
Also rowing for Sligo in the individual races were David Murray (Men’s J14 Single Scull), James Muldoon (Men’s J14 Single Scull), Rosie Spoorenberg (Women’s J16 Single Scull) and Orlaith KavanaghBeirne (Women’s J15 Single Scull). Murray was a semi-finalist, as was Spoorenburg, with KavanaghBeirne just losing out in a hardfought contest in her category. These Junior members of Sligo Rowing Club, who performed so well at this regatta, will now take a break before resuming training next month for the 2022 season.