Sligo rowers put on good show at National Irish Championships
LAST weekend Sligo Rowing Club made their annual pilgrimage to Cork to compete at the National Irish Rowing Championships which were held in Farran Wood, Inniscarra. A full trailer of boats made their way to Cork on Thursday for Sligo crews to compete over a 3 day event Friday to Sunday.
Sligo had 13 boats entered in all in what was the largest ever regatta yet to be held on the island of Ireland where more than 1,600 athletes representing over 60 clubs from all four provinces raced.
Sligo crews were early on the water of Day 1 racing on Friday morning with both junior ladies doubles of Mairead Kavanagh and Leyla McGlynn along with Anya Raftery and Siofra Kelleher competing in different heats. Both crews put in strong performances but were unfortunate not to qualify from a strong field. Immediately thereafter the boys junior coxed quad was on the water and despite putting in a sterling performance were narrowly beaten.
The afternoon saw the Sligo senior double of Glenn Patterson and Brian Colsh go head to head with a double from the rowing powerhouse of Skibbereen. Despite a brave performance from the Sligo double over the first 1000 metres where they put it up to the Munster crew the second 1000 metres saw the Skibbereen double take the lead and ultimately victory.
Evening racing for Sligo saw Alannah Donohue compete in the Ladies Junior 14 single sculls. Alannah rowed a very strong race narrowly losing to a Killorgin sculler.
Saturday morning racing saw Erin O’Connor take to the water in the Ladies Junior 16 single sculls in which Erin put in a workman like performance over the 2000 metre 6 lane course but was unfortunate not to win against strong scullers for Lee and Three Castles.
Saturday afternoon saw the experienced Glenn Patterson take to the water. Glenn did not disappoint and with one eye on the semifinal he did enough to qualify in 7:23. Two and a half hours later Glenn was back out on the water competing the semifinal and with a strong line up and two to qualify for the final was unfortunate not to make the final six coming in at a fast time 7:12.
The final race of Day 2 saw Alannah Donohue take to the water for a second time where she rowed in a grade above her normal category in which she gained some valuable race experience.
Sunday and final race day saw some remarkable racing for Sligo Rowing Club. Brian Colsh and Killian McCarthy were on the water early on Sunday morning competing in the Men’s Junior 16 single sculls heat for which a large entry of 42 single scullers were entered. The young but now experienced Colsh didn’t disappoint and won his heat comfortably with a time of 8:36 with Killian McCarthy putting in an excellent performance. There is no doubt that the future bodes well for Killian in the single. Brian competed in his semifinal in the early afternoon and qualified in second place with a time of 7:44. Brian was back out on the water having made it to the final 6 out of 42 junior 16 single scullers. Brian once again rowed a very strong 2000 metres finishing third to Sheehan of Lee in first and Kelly of Kenmare in second.
The women’s junior 16 quad of Diya Ryan, Sarah Tighe, Mina Ryan, Erin O’Connor and Faye McGlynn were unfortunate not to qualify. The future bodes well for this crew who stayed in contention with the leading group throughout the entire race.
The junior women’s coxless quad of Anya Raftery, Mairead Kavanagh, Leyla McGlynn and Roisin Walsh also put in a strong performance with a time of 8:12.
Molua Donohue, father of Alan- nah and not to be outdone by daughter Alannah also put in a strong performance in the Mens Master single sculls.
The club would like to acknowledge Kevin Egan car sales for providing transport to facilitate the towing of the boat trailer to Cork.
The club now looks forward to its own regatta which will be held next weekend on Saturday 28th July over a 3 lane 800 metre course on the Garavogue River where sprint racing will take place commencing at 9:30am to 4pm. Racing over all age groups will occur from Junior 12’s right up to Masters.
The regatta will also accommodate racing for those who recently took up the sport under the recent social Learn to Row programme. Doorly Park with its riverside toe path offers a unique opportunity to experience close up and firsthand the experience of Olympic style sprint racing right from the start on the stake boats to the finish and is an occasion to be savored.
Sligo Rowing Club have over the last 11 months through voluntary fund raising, private sponsorship and through funding received from Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership under the Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts Urban Outdoor Adventure Initiative have now procured two social leisure rowing boats to accommodate introduction to rowing for those adults who wish to try out the sport of rowing and to enjoy the nature and beauty of the Garavogue and Lough Gill as a leisure pursuit. The club is now offering a Learn to Row programme. If interested, please come along to the regatta to see firsthand leisure rowing or to talk to one of the club members or alternatively see the clubs facebook page for details.