Displaying items by tag: rowing
Five women are about to enter the record books after a 3,000 mile journey rowing across the Atlantic. They will become the first ever all-female crew to row the Atlantic from West to East, one of the longest and most difficult routes, having left New York on June 7th heading for Falmouth.
And it's all down to an advert placed online 2 years ago "Wanted: an all female team who have what it takes'.
Weather conditions permitting, their Rannoch Women’s Challenge boat, Liberty of Essex, is expected to arrive in Falmouth on or around Wednesday July 27th
The crew ranges from captain 49-year-old Guin Batten, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, through to 20-year-old oceanographer university student Molly Brown, who will become the youngest woman to have rowed the Atlantic.
Also on board are Alex Holt, a water-ski and snow ski instructor, Gilly Mara, one of the fastest ultra-kayakers in the UK who came into the sport after breaking her neck in a climbing accident, and Mary Sutherland, an accomplished offshore sailor and racer with several Fastnet and Atlantic crossings under her belt.
Assisted on-shore by Charlie Pitcher, whose company, Rannoch Adventures, built and supplied Liberty, their vessel. Charlie is the current world record holder for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, having rowed it in 35 days in 2013 – East to West in 2013.
#Rowing - Galway man Gavan Hennigan aims to join an elite group of rowers who've crossed the Atlantic solo when he takes part in the gruelling Tallisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge later this year.
Not to be confused with the Atlantic Challenge for longboats, the Tallisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a 3,000-nautical-mile rowing route across the world's second-largest expanse of ocean from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the West Indies.
Described as "horrific" by Seán McGowan, the first Irish person to complete the route six years ago, it's a challenge that's not for the faint of heart.
And 'extreme environment athlete' Hennigan is making it even tougher for himself by heading out solo among a field that usually features teams of up to four.
But the experienced adventurer – who hopes to raise €20,000 over the coming months for charities including Cancer Care West, Jigsaw, Sanctuary and the RNLI – is taking it all in his stride.
"I suppose I like the idea of the challenge," he told the Galway Independent. "I’ve spent a lot of my time in extreme places doing mountaineering in the Himalayas, I’ve been to Antarctica, I’ve done some of the world’s longest and toughest ultra-marathons.
"I’ve also had one of the most dangerous jobs in the world as a commercial diver so I’ve lived this life of extreme adventure and this just looked like the next big challenge for me."
The Galway Independent has more on the story HERE.
#OceanToCity - Naomhóga Chorcaí kept eight titles Leeside in this year's Ocean to City Race, according to the Evening Echo.
Cork’s currach rowing club – and race hosts – dominated the currach classes in the annual coastal rowing fixture of the Cork Harbour Festival.
But teams from across the country and abroad were strong in what festival Donagh MacArtain described as one of the most competitive races on the water.
More than 200 crews descended on Cork Harbour over the bank holiday weekend for the flagship event of the 2016 festival, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.
The 12th running of the 28km race from Crosshaven to Cork City broke a new record for entries with some 600 rowers taking part.
The Evening Echo has more on the story HERE.
'5 At 85' No Sweat In Charity Rowing Challenge
#Rowing - Not content with rowing 80km for his 80th birthday, Donnaca Kennedy took advantage of the good weather for another fundraising row to mark his 85th this summer.
The former Weaver Boats proprietor, who will be familiar to many veteran Shannon boaters, aims to raise money for the North West Cancer Hospice and the Ethiopian Cancer Squad via his latest endeavour.
Originally planned for this June Bank Holiday weekend, Kennedy seized on the perfect rowing conditions last Sunday 29 May for the five-mile run from Carrick-on-Shannon to the Boyle River.
But he's still welcoming donations for his chosen charities, both close to his heart.
After spending some time under the care of the team at the North West Hospice, Kennedy has first-hand experience of how important this service is for those in need, according to his daughter Úna who's been getting the word out about his plans.
To read more about his row and the charities involved, visit his blog at 5at85.blogspot.ie.
Over 200 crews are set to descend on Cork City this bank holiday weekend for Ireland’s premier rowing race, the flagship event of Cork Harbour Festival 2016. Almost 600 participants will take to the water for the gruelling 28km race from Crosshaven to Cork City. This is the 12th year of the race organised by Meitheal Mara, which since 2005 has brought thousands of rowers and paddlers to Cork to compete across a broad range of classes. Many participants are regular race goers, while many more take part for the fun and challenge of completing the course.
This year’s race brings crews from around Ireland, England, Holland, France, Portugal and the United States. Albany Irish Rowing Club, from New York, who will row a three handed currach, is one crew that can’t wait for the starting line. “We’re looking forward to rowing in the best race in the world, meeting the locals and enjoying the festival!” The Rockabillies, an all-female crew from Skerries, North Co. Dublin are returning to take on the Ocean to City challenge for a second time. “We’re training together with a mix of walking, gym, running and cycling. Last year was great fun and we just had to head back again – the Rebels know how to party!” This year will see an Australian surfboat compete for the first time. The Perranporth Maniacs are surfboat rowers from Cornwall, who compete in surfboat competitions throughout the UK and Europe. “We’ve heard many good reports from other rowers that have taken part in the Ocean to City, and look forward to a new rowing experience.”
The race starts at 11.30am at Crosshaven, with best vantage points from Camden Fort Meagher, whose café terrace has the perfect vista over Roches Point. Along the race route, Cobh Tourism will host the annual ‘Cobh Cheers!’, featuring live race commentary and family fun with the Cobh Animation Team. Passage West Maritime Festival hosts the Ocean to City Picnic at 12.45, which is the destination for the ‘Harbour Pedal’, Cork Cycling Campaign’s scenic morning cycle, which departs Lapp’s Quay at 11.30am.
The festivities at the city finish line at Lapp’s Quay warm up from 1pm, with live commentary, DJ Ian Fiasco, live music, the festival market and circus street performances. The prize giving ceremony wraps up events with the after-party celebrations kicking off from 7pm along Albert Quay!
Driven Irish Win B Final in Lucerne
#Rowing: Ireland’s lightweight women’s double won the B Final emphatically at the World Cup Regatta in Lucerne this morning, placing seventh at this prestigious regatta. The crew of Sinéad Lynch (née Jennings) and Claire Lambe had come very close to taking an A Final place. They dominated this B Final. The race was quite close early on, but Ireland took control before half way and carved out a clear water lead. Poland were second and Britain third.
World Cup Regatta, Lucerne, Switzerland (Irish interest; selected results)
Men
Lightweight Pair – A Final: 1 Britain (J Cassells, S Scrimgeour) 6:31.03.
Women
Lightweight Double Sculls – B Final (Places 7 to 12): 1 Ireland (C Lambe, S Lynch) 7:01.36, 2 Poland 7:03.01, 3 Britain 7:04.88.
Rowers In Team Ireland's First Selections For Rio 2016
#Rio2016 - Four rowers have been included in Team Ireland's first formal selections for this summer's Olympic Games in Rio.
Sinead Lynch and Claire Lambe in the lightweight women's double scull and the team of Paul and Gary O'Donovan in the lightweight men's double scull were put forward by Rowing Ireland in the first group of selected athletes for Rio 2016 announced on Friday 20 May.
"The athletes selected have fantastic potential and have shown that they are capable of performing against the very best in the world," said Kevin Kilty, Team Ireland's chef de mission for Rio 2016.
"We will provide them with the best possible high performance environment in Rio in order that they can perform at their best.”
The four rowers join two badminton hopefuls, two gymnasts and a six-strong boxing contingent – including Olympic medallist Paddy Barnes – in the first team announcement.
Drea Helps Young People Complete Road to Rio
#Rowing: The Road to Rio row came to a spirited conclusion in Parliament Square at Trinity College today. Ireland Olympians Sean Drea and Brendan Dolan and Eimear Lambe, younger sister of soon-to-be Olympian Claire, were among those taking part in the final push. Ministers Michael Noonan and Frances Fitzgerald visited the stand. Thousands of young people had done stints on ergometers, with the distances they covered counted off the 9195.97 kilometres from Ireland to Rio de Janeiro.
St Joseph's of Galway Trophy Winners at Schools' Championships
#Rowing: The Victor Ludorum Trophy for best school was won by St Joseph’s of Galway at the Irish Schools’ Championships at O’Brien’s Bridge in Clare today. Daire Lynch of Clonmel CBS was the best single sculler. Methodist College, Belfast, won the women’s under-23 eight.
O'Donovans Give Ireland Second Heat Win at World Cup Regatta
#Rowing: Ireland had its second heat win at the World Cup Regatta in Varese, as the lightweight double of Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan gave an excellent display. They took over the lead in the second half of the race and beat Britain into second place, with both crews qualifying for semi-finals.
Sinéad Jennings and Claire Lambe finished third in their heat, missing direct qualifcation for the semi-finals by just one spot. The Ireland lightweight double were very close to leaders Switzerland down the course, but in the drive for the line Canada took the second qualification place, with Ireland .55 of a second behind.
World Cup Regatta, Varese (Selected Results, Irish interest)
Men
Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan, G O’Donovan) 6:27.07, 2 Britain 6:33.38; 3 Netherlands Two 6:48.24.
Women
Pair – Heat One (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Germany 7:23.08, 2 Russia One 7:24.46; 5 Ireland (L Kennedy, B O’Brien) 7:46.38.
Lightweight Double Sculls – Heat Two (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to Repechages): 1 Switzerland 7:03.98, 2 Canada 7:04.45; 3 Ireland (C Lambe, S Jennings) 7:05.0.
Single Sculls – Heat One (Winner to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to Repechages): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:34.32; 2 Czech Republic (M Knapkova) 7:36.13.