Leisure rowing starting

SLIGO Rowing Club are now putting final preparations in place to accommodate leisure rowing in Sligo. This new club development initiative which is fully supported by Rowing Ireland involves providing a platform independent of competitive rowing for those people who wish to try out rowing. The initiative is targeted at both men and women over the age of 18 who always wanted to try rowing but do not have the time nor the desire to commit to an arduous training schedule. To facilitate the safe introduction to rowing and the amenities that Sligo Rowing Club offer on the Garavogue and nearby adjoining Lough Gill, the club have purchased a new open touring quad boat which is inherently more stable being wider and deeper than the conventional racing shell. In order to fully facilitate this event an additional 2 off Rowing Ireland touring boats will be borrowed and transported from Limerick to ensure a total of 3 boats will be available on the water. Two open days are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday the 21st and 22nd October respectively between the hours of 2 to 5PM where those who wish to try out slide seat rowing will be given the opportunity to do so by Sligo Rowing Club in Doorly Park. After the taster session they will be invited to sign up for further rowing sessions on the water for a nominal fee where Sligo Rowing Club coaches will continue to introduce them to the technique of the rowing stroke and general boat handling skills. They also have the option to migrate to competitive rowing should they wish to do so. Leisure based rowing has not only grown in popularity in Ireland but also on the continent where leisure based crews often travel to other cities for a leisurely rowing weekend. It is imperative that those wishing to go on the water should be able to swim.

A group from Sligo Rowing Club travelled to Offaly for time trials recently. This was the first competitive event of the 2018 rowing season when they brought their boats to Tullamore to race on the 2250m grand canal course. Owing to the restriction of the width of the canal the trial solely focuses on single sculls. Sligo had 5 single scull boats race, including Molua Donohue Mens Masters Sculls, Glen Patterson Mens Senior sculls, Brian Colsh Mens Junior 15 sculls, Cora Hackett Womens Junior 18 sculls and Erin O’Connor Womens Junior 15 single sculls. All boats raced incredibly well on the day with Glenn Patterson winning the Mens Senior Sculls category outright with a time of 8:32.