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Displaying items by tag: Head of the Shannon

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that the Head of the Shannon rowing event will take place in Carrick-on-Shannon this Saturday 3 December.

The event will take place downstream of Carrick bridge for a distance of 3.5km. The rowing starts at navigation maker known locally as White Woman/White Lady downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon and will proceed back to the Marina just downstream of the bridge.

The rowing events will take place between 10am and 4pm. Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the rowing events during these times.

This event is the second Head of the Shannon of 2022, as last year’s event was postponed until February. Details for competing rowers can be found HERE.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users that the rescheduled Head of the Shannon rowing event will take place on Saturday 19 February.

The day’s events will take place at 11am and 2pm downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon bridge for a distance of 3.5km. The rowing starts at the navigation maker known locally as White Woman/White Lady and will proceed back to the marina downstream of the bridge.

Masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the rowing events.

Published in Rowing

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all masters of vessels and water users that the Head of the Shannon rowing event will take place on Saturday 4 December.

The event will take place downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon bridge for a distance of 3.5km.

The rowing starts at navigation maker known locally as White Woman/White Lady and will proceed back to the Marina downstream of of the bridge.

Rowing events will take place at 11am and 2pm on the day.

Masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the rowing events.

Published in Rowing

St Joseph's of Galway were the fastest crew in the shortened second head at the Head of the Shannon rowing event in Carrick on Shannon today. The men's junior 18A eight rowed well and set a provisional time of nine minutes 19.3 seconds.

Commercial's men's junior 18A quadruple were almost as fast, winning their class in nine minutes 22.6 seconds.

The fastest women's crew was the Commercial club one eight, while the Tribesmen/Athlone combination came home fastest of the mixed masters eights.

Brian Colsh of Sligo came home fastest of the junior men's single scullers; Molly Curry was the best women's junior single sculler.

The conditions were surprisingly good, with the water calmer as the afternoon went on.

Published in Rowing

Muckross Head of the River, set for Saturday, has cancelled but rowing people will be glad to hear that the big Head of the Shannon event in Carrick-on-Shannon is set to go ahead.

 The organising committee of Muckross Head said that the weather forecast led them to cancel on safety grounds

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The Head of the Shannon enjoyed good weather and an appreciative crowd at Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday. The timing system encountered some difficulties. Neptune’s junior 18 quadruple were the fastest crew in the first head. The pennant for this class was granted in the second head and Enniskillen took it. The Fermanagh club had a set of wins at junior level, as did Coláiste Iognáid of Galway. Commercial’s junior 16 women’s eight also came out on top.  

Head of the Shannon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Selected Results (Category winners)

Head One

Men

Eight – Jun 16: Col Iognáid. Masters: Neptune (d)

Four – Jun 18, coxed: Enniskillen

Pair – Sen: Galway. Jun 18: Enniskillen

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Sligo. Masters: Galway (e). Masters, coxed: Athlone (e).

Double – Sen: Portadown. Masters: City of Derry (d). Jun 18: Enniskillen

Single – Jun 16: Athlone (Carroll)

Women

Eight – Jun 18: Col Iognáid

Four – Club, coxed: Athlone

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Double – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon. Jun 16: Commercial

Single – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon (Early). Jun 18: Enniskillen (Fee)

Head Two

Men

Eight, Jun 18: Portadown

Four – Masters, coxed: Athlone (b)

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Double – Club: Enniskillen. Jun 16: Enniskillen

Single – Sen: Sligo (G Patterson). Jun 18: Carrick-on-Shannon (Early). Masters: Athlone (Gallen, f)

Women,

Eight

Club: Galway. Jun 16: Commercial. Masters: Tribesmen B (e)

Four – Jun 18: Col Iognáid.

Pair – Jun 18: Col Iognáid

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Sligo.

Double – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Single – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon (T Duggan). Jun 16: Carrick-on-Shannon (Murtagh).

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: A young Queen’s University lightweight quadruple were the fastest crew at the Shannon Head of the River at Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday. The under-23 crew of Jordan Wilson, Miles Taylor, Ewan Murray and Harry Mahon took 11 minutes and 53 seconds to complete the course. Portora’s junior 16 eight also did well. Tiernan Oliver and Sam McKeown, in a senior double, almost matched their time. See Attached Results.

Head of the Shannon, Carrick-on-Shannon (Selected Results)

Head One:

Men

Eight – Jun 16: Portora 12 minutes 43 seconds.

Four – Jun 18, coxed: Portora 13:13.

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Carrick-on-Shannon 14:24. Double – Sen: Queen’s 12:46

Women

Eight – Club One: Commercial 14:29. Jun 18: Commercial 13:39

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 18A: Portora 14:08.

Head Two:

Men

Eight – Novice: Commercial 14:55.

Sculling – Quadruple – Sen: Queen’s 11:53. Jun 18A, coxed: Portora 12:28

Single – Sen: Queen’s (T Oliver) 14:03. Jun 18A Carrick-on-Shannon (T Earley) 14:48.

Women

Eight – Inter: Commercial B 13:40. Jun 16: Portora 13:57.

Published in Rowing

Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro. 

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race. 

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind. 

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

  • It starts in June or July from a French port.
  • The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
  • Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Course

Stage #1 Caen – Kinsale : 610 nautical miles
Departure August 27 (expected arrival August 30)

Stage #2 Kinsale – Baie de Morlaix : 630 nautical miles
Departure September 3 (expected arrival September 6)

Stage #3 Baie de Morlaix – Piriac-sur-Mer : 620 nautical miles
Departure September 10 (expected arrival September 13)

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