Record outing by club at Irish Rowing Championships in Cork

SLIGO Rowing Club made their annual pilgrimage this weekend to the National Rowing Centre at Farran Wood, Inniscarra, Co Cork to race at the Irish National Rowing Championships in what was the largest regatta ever held on the island of Ireland with a record entry of 1049 crews from 60 clubs competing in a total of 264 races over the 3-day event on the 6 lane 2000 metre course. Early races for Sligo Rowing Club on Friday morning warranted loading of the boats and hauling of the trailer to Cork on Thursday afternoon. This arduous task was made that much easier by the provision of a towing vehicle kindly supplied by Kevin Egan Cars with Ray Murtagh who completed the towing. Sligo had 3 boats on the water with Roisin Walsh and Neasa Henehan first on the water for Sligo in the Women’s Junior Double. Racing against tough opposition from Lee, New Ross and Castleconnell the girls were unlucky not to qualify putting in a great time of 8 minutes 24 seconds. Brian Colsh took to the water to win the Junior 15 single sculls comfortably having led from the start from scullers from Lee, CRCC, Tralee and New Ross. This was a landmark win for Sligo Rowing Club being the first win ever for the club on the waters of Inniscarra. There is no doubt that Brian in a bright prospect for Sligo Rowing Club. The third boat on the water for Sligo was the Women’s coxed quad of Siofra Kelleher Stroke, Isabelle Waters 3 , Mairead Kavanagh 2 and Eleanor Burke Bow. Expertly coxed by Erin O’Connor the Sligo Quad held off a late challenge by UCDBC to qualify for their place in the final. Having briefly returned to shore to hydrate and with last words of guidance from coaches Tom Colsh and Molua Donohoe, the girls returned to the start to take their place in the final where they once again rowed a strong race over the 2000m course but unfortunately were beaten by a very strong and well drilled NUIG crew. Anticipating strong winds in the afternoon of the second day of racing the regatta committee opted to start day 2 of racing at 7am. Roisín Walsh took to the water in the women’s junior 16 single sculls. Roisín put in a strong performance in what was a new boat category for her and although not winning on this occasion next season certainly looks promising for Roisin in the single. Next out on the water for Sligo was Glenn Patterson competing in the much coveted intermediate single sculls in which there were a total of 34 entries. Glenn in this heat was drawn in lane 6 and with only two to qualify for the semifinal Glen was aware that a good performance was required. Although rowable strong winds were on the course as Glenn trailed by 2 lengths out of the blocks at the 500 metre mark. In characteristic style and while remaining determined not to lose touch with the leading pack, Glenn drew level at the 1000 metre course and continued to push on over the second 1000m to win his heat by one length beating strong opposition from 2 Carlow single scullers, 2 Commercial scullers and Offaly sculler, C. Brady. Tom Colsh was next on the water for Sligo in the rainbow Master composite of Commercial, Shandon, Sligo, Shannon, SMRC and Castleconnell. With 3 boats about to take to the water for Sligo the Masters VIII proved to be one of the last races of the day with strong winds rendering the course unrowable for the remainder of the day and with the Masters VIII returning to the slip with plenty water on board! The Sligo crews would have to wait another day to test their abilities. Sunday morning again started early with Glenn Patterson taking to the water at 6:30am for the Intermediate single sculls semifinal with 3 to qualify from the six boats. Glenn again didn’t disappoint and qualified for the final together with St Michaels and UCCRC. The men’s junior double of Conor Whelehan and Eoghan Donohoe also put in a strong performance but were unlucky not to qualify. Brian Colsh having won the Junior 15 single sculls once again returned to the water on the grade above, the junior 16 single sculls and put in a very hard fought brave performance beating Portadown and Enniskillen coming in second to Cotter of Skibbereen to qualify for his place in the semifinal where he was unfortunately beaten by a strong Bann sculler. In the intermediate single sculls semi final Glenn was racing the powerhouse clubs of Skibbereen, UCC, SMRC, Castleconnell and Clonmel who went onto win the race with a time of 7 minutes 10 seconds after a closely fought battle. Glenn will now go on to represent and to wear the green signet vest of his country at the Home Internationals Regatta on the purpose built course of Strathclyde Park in Scotland where he will represent his country in the open single sculls and open quadruple sculls joining other top flight senior oarsmen from around the country. The club would like to acknowledge Declan Nugent of Avena who supported Glenn’s weights and ergometer training regime over the past number of months. The second last race of the day was with coach and club secretary Molua Donohoe rowing in the Masters single sculls where he put in a strong performance against three single scullers from Galway, Crean from Cork and Lyne from Flesk Valley. The final race for Sligo was the men’s junior 15 coxed quad against Blackrock, Carlow, Athlone and SMRC. Expertly stroked by Andrew Waters and with the stroke being backed by Brian Colsh, Adam Rattigan and Killian McCarty this young Sligo crew put in a masterly display beyond their years with the experienced Cora Hackett in the coxes seat assisting the crew in their race. Sligo Rowing Club will host its own regatta on Saturday 29th July where Masters eights from around the country will compete on home waters for one last time before they travel to Bled in Slovenia in September to race at the World Masters at which Sligo Rowing Clubs coach, Henley VIII’s medal winner and 4-time Irish Championship winner Tom Colsh will also compete. Sligo crews that raced in the 2017 Irish National Rowing Championships were: Men’s Intermediate Singe Sculls : Glenn Patterson. Men’s Club 2 4+ : Eoghan Donohoe Bow, Glenn Patterson 2, Tom Colsh 3 , Molua Donohoe Stroke , Cora Hackett Cox. Men’s Masters Single Sculls : Molua Donohoe. Men’s Masters VIII Composite : Tom Colsh. Men’s Junior 18 2X : Conor Whelehan Bow, Eoghan Donohoe Stroke. Men’s Junior 15 & 16 1X : Brian Colsh. Men’s Junior 15 4x+ : Killian McCarthy Bow, Adam Rattigan 2, Brian Colsh 3, Andrew Waters Stroke, Erin O’ Connor Cox. Women’s Novice 4x+ : Eleanor Burke Bow, Mairead Kavanagh 2, Isabelle Waters 3 , Siofra Kelleher Stroke , Erin O Connor Cox. Women’s J18 2x : Neasa Henehan Box , Roisin Walsh Stroke. Women’s J16 1x: Roisin Walsh Women’s J15 1x: Erin O’Connor. Sligo Regatta is on Saturday, July 29th.