Displaying items by tag: rowing
Colaiste Iognaid Do Well at Ghent
Colaiste Iognaid’s junior men’s eight finished second in their class at the Ghent rowing regatta in Belgium. An Irish crew, Cork Boat Club, also won the junior women’s eight – but this was a certainty. The three crews competing were all Irish – a Methody/Offaly combination was second and Colaiste Iognaid were third.
Ghent Regatta, Belgium , Day One - Selected Results (Irish interest)
Men
Eight – Junior: 1 Willem III, Amsterdam 7:05.69, 2 Col Iognaid 7:25.04.
Four – Junior, coxed: 2 Col Iognaid 7:44.97.
Quadruple – Junior: 6 Offaly.
Single – Lightweight: 3 Cork (D Murphy) 8:10.68.
Women
Eight – Junior: 1 Cork 7:53.02, 2 Methodist/Offaly 8:38.55, 3 Col Iognaid 8:50.64.
Four – Junior: 2 Cork (L Murphy, C Deasy, K Mackey, S Higgins) 8:10.02.
Sculling, Quadruple – Junior: 6 Cork 8:02.22
Single – Lightweight: 2 Three Castles (B Quinn) 9:09.31.
Hot Competition for Irish at Munich Junior Test
Ireland’s young team had two fifth places and one sixth on the first day of the Junior rowing Regatta in Munich. Holly Nixon finished fifth in a high-quality final of the women’s single scull, having won her heat. Paul O’Donovan, who is just 16 and was lighter than his opponents, also won his heat. He found the headwind conditions difficult in the final and finished sixth. The development women’s quadruple scull finished fifth of six crews in their final.
International Junior Regatta, Munich – Day One (Selected Results, Irish interest)
Men
Pair – Heat Three: 4 Ireland (J Cassells, C Black) 7:45.63.
Double Scull – Heat Three: 4 Ireland (A Sheehan, M Monteith) 7:04.19.
Single Scull – Heat Four: 1 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:49.44, 2 Slovenia (J Kanduc) 7:57.94. Final: 1 Croatia (B Gardijan) 7:49.84; 6 Ireland (O’Donovan) 8:09.60.
Women
Quadruple Scull – Final: 1 Britain 7:20.84; 5 Ireland (K Cromie, B Jacques, H Shinnick, K O’Brien) 7:45.19.
Double Scull - Heat Four: 4 Ireland (M Dineen, R Shorten) 8:02.01.
Single Scull – Heat Five: 1 Ireland (H Nixon) 8:46.39, 2 Germany (L Neerschulte) 8:50.06. Final: 1 Netherlands (I Paulis) 9:07.45; 5 Ireland (Nixon) 9:31.02.
UCD Top First Grand League Table
UCD stand on top of the Grand League points table after the first regatta of the season. Skibbereen, the hosts of last month's regatta are in second. Trinity, who won the Irish University Championships, have good showing for both their women's club, DULBC, and the men's club.
Below is the Grand League Rowing points table. Next up for the Grand League series: Queens Regatta, May 14th, Metro Regatta, May 28th and Cork & Monkstown Regatta, July 2nd.
Overall Club Points | After Skibbereen Regatta | |
1 | U.C.D. BC | 187 |
2 | Skibbereen RC | 119 |
3 | Shandon BC | 107 |
4 | St. Michaels Rowing Club | 103 |
5 | Dublin University Ladies BC | 94 |
6 | Cork BC | 92 |
7 | NUI Galway BC | 82 |
8 | Commercial RC | 72 |
9 | Neptune RC | 71 |
10 | Dublin University BC | 55 |
11 | Muckross RC | 53 |
12 | U.C.C. RC | 49 |
13 | University of Limerick RC | 47.5 |
14 | Carlow RC | 46 |
15 | St. Josephs College RC | 43 |
16 | Shannon RC | 41 |
17 | Fermoy RC | 40 |
18 | Clonmel RC | 32 |
19 | Athlunkard BC | 29 |
20 | Lee RC | 29 |
21 | Galway RC | 20 |
22 | Killorglin RC | 18.5 |
23 | Cappoquin | 17 |
24 | Tralee RC | 17 |
25 | Three Castles Rowing Club | 15 |
26 | Garda Siochana BC | 14 |
27 | Colaiste Chiarain RC | 12 |
28 | Lee Valley RC | 12 |
29 | Workmens RC | 12 |
30 | Old Collegians BC (Walshe) | 10 |
31 | Presentation College RC | 10 |
32 | Graiguenamanagh BC | 9 |
33 | Fossa RC | 7 |
34 | Grainne Mhaol RC | 4 |
35 | Castleconnell BC | 1 |
Mens Division 1 | After Skibbereen Regatta | |
1 | U.C.D. BC | 74 |
2 | Skibbereen RC | 65 |
3 | Neptune RC | 39 |
4 | Dublin University BC | 30 |
5 | Carlow RC | 28 |
6 | Commercial RC | 28 |
7 | Lee RC | 24 |
8 | Cork BC | 22 |
9 | NUI Galway BC | 22 |
10 | Muckross RC | 21 |
11 | St. Josephs College RC | 17 |
12 | University of Limerick RC | 17 |
13 | St. Michaels Rowing Club | 15 |
14 | Lee Valley RC | 12 |
15 | Shandon BC | 12 |
16 | Presentation College RC | 10 |
17 | Fossa RC | 7 |
18 | Garda Siochana BC | 6 |
19 | U.C.C. RC | 6 |
20 | Workmens RC | 5 |
21 | Grainne Mhaol RC | 4 |
22 | Three Castles Rowing Club | 3 |
23 | Clonmel RC | 1 |
Mens Division 2 | After Skibbereen Regatta | |
1 | St. Michaels Rowing Club | 38 |
2 | Cork BC | 33 |
3 | Neptune RC | 32 |
4 | U.C.D. BC A | 27 |
5 | St. Josephs College RC | 26 |
6 | Dublin University BC | 25 |
7 | Shannon RC | 24 |
8 | Shandon BC | 23 |
9 | U.C.C. RC | 23 |
10 | Fermoy RC | 21 |
11 | Athlunkard BC | 17 |
12 | Carlow RC | 12 |
13 | Cappoquin RC | 11 |
14 | University of Limerick RC | 11 |
15 | Commercial RC | 9 |
16 | Skibbereen RC | 9 |
17 | Tralee RC | 9 |
18 | Workmens RC | 7 |
19 | Clonmel RC | 6 |
20 | Graiguenamanagh BC | 6 |
21 | NUI Galway BC | 6 |
22 | Lee RC | 5 |
23 | Colaiste Chiarain RC | 4 |
24 | Muckross RC | 1 |
Womens Division 1 | After Skibbereen Regatta | |
1 | U.C.D. BC | 61 |
2 | Dublin University Ladies BC | 47 |
3 | Skibbereen RC | 45 |
4 | Shandon BC | 40 |
5 | St. Michaels Rowing Club | 38 |
6 | NUI Galway BC | 29 |
7 | Muckross RC | 23 |
8 | Killorglin RC | 14.5 |
9 | Three Castles Rowing Club | 12 |
10 | Old Collegians BC | 10 |
11 | University of Limerick RC | 9.5 |
12 | Clonmel RC | 9 |
13 | Cork BC | 9 |
14 | U.C.C. RC | 9 |
15 | Athlunkard BC | 1 |
Womens Division 2 | After Skibbereen Regatta | |
1 | Dublin University Ladies BC | 47 |
2 | Commercial | 35 |
3 | Shandon BC | 33 |
4 | Cork BC | 28 |
5 | NUI Galway BC | 25 |
6 | U.C.D. BC | 25 |
7 | Galway RC | 20 |
8 | Fermoy RC | 19 |
9 | Shannon RC | 17 |
10 | Clonmel RC | 16 |
11 | St. Michaels Rowing Club | 12 |
12 | Athlunkard BC | 11 |
13 | U.C.C. RC | 11 |
14 | University of Limerick RC | 10 |
15 | Colaiste Chiarain | 8 |
16 | Garda Siochana BC | 8 |
17 | Muckross RC | 8 |
18 | Tralee RC | 8 |
19 | Cappoquin | 6 |
20 | Carlow RC | 6 |
21 | Killorglin RC | 4 |
22 | Graiguenamanagh | 3 |
23 | Castleconnell BC | 1 |
Rowers Cross Irish Sea for Wicklow Charity
McCrohan is Afloat Rower of the Month (and podcast!)
Siobhan McCrohan is the Afloat Rower of the Month for April. The Galway woman was a convincing winner of the women’s single sculls final at the National Trials, following a similar win at the National Assessment in Newry. Last season she placed sixth at the World Cup regatta in Lucerne in a lightweight single scull, and partnered Claire Lambe in a lightweight double scull to sixth place at the World Cup in Bled and fourth at the European Championships in Portugal. Afloat wishes Siobhan and all the Ireland team well in the season ahead.
Rower of the Month awards: The judging panel is made up of Liam Gorman, rowing correspondent of The Irish Times, President of Rowing Ireland Anthony Dooley and David O'Brien, Editor of Afloat magazine. Monthly awards for achievements during the year will appear on afloat.ie and the overall national award will be presented to the person or crew who, in the judges' opinion, achieved the most notable results in, or made the most significant contribution to rowing during 2011. Keep a monthly eye on progress and watch our 2011 champions list grow.
McCrohan and O'Donovan Win Sculling Trials
Lightweight rowing athletes Siobhan McCrohan and Mark O’Donovan won the single sculls medals – an innovation this year – at the National Trials at the NRC in Cork. McCrohan held off heavyweight Lisa Dilleen to take her crown, while O’Donovan led in the three men who formed the medal-winning Ireland lightweight quadruple scull with him last year – Michael Maher, Niall Kenny and Justin Ryan. Sanita Puspure, who is injured, was a notable absentee from the women's race: McCrohan’s closest lightweight rival, Claire Lambe (20), finished third.
Sixteen-year-old Paul O’Donovan from Skibbereen was the outstanding junior on show, placing fifth in the A Final, while the men’s junior pair from Bann Rowing Club, Joel Cassells an Chris Black, were also impressive in their victory in this grade.
National Trials, National Rowing Centre, Cork (percentages in brackets of estimated world gold-medal winning time for the athlete’s grade). Senior athletes lightweight unless stated.
Saturday – Finals
Men
Pair (all juniors) – A Final: 1 J Cassells, C Black 6:58.6 (93.3), 2 C Egan, F Tolan 7:05.3 (91.8), 3 L Seaman, H Millar 7:05.7 (91.7), 4 E Beechinor, K Synott 7:11.4 (90.5), 5 J Egan, A Kelly 7:16.7 (89.4), 6 D Hindle, A Bell 7:19.4 (88.9). B Final: 1 S Hewitt, P Boomer 7:16.7 (89.4), 2 C O’Riada, K Doyle 7:19.3 (88.9), 3 D Buckley, K Mitchell 7:29.2 (87.0).
Sculling, Single – A Final: 1 M O’Donovan 7:12.9 (senior; 92.4), 2 M Maher 7:15.1 (snr; 91.9), 3 N Kenny 7:17.4 (under-23; 93.7), 4 J Ryan 7:21.5 (92.9), 5 P O’Donovan 7:22.1 (junior; 93.6), 6 P Hanily 7:22.9 (under-23; 92.6), 7 S O’Driscoll 7:24.2 (under-23; 92.3).
B Final: 1 A English 7:24.5 (snr; 90.0), 2 J Mitchell 7:26.8 (91.8), 3 A Sheehan 7:29.6 (under-23; 92.1), 4 N Prenderville 7:30.5 (under-23; 91.9), 5 D Quigley 7:37.2 (90.6).
C Final (all juniors): 1 M Monteith 7:41.3 (89.8), 2 L McCarthy 7:44.4 (89.1), 3 D Collins 7:48.6 (88.3). D Final: 1 P Leonard 7:51.4 (87.8). E Final: C Noone 7:48 (88.4).
Women,
Pair – A Final: 1 A Sheehan, H O’Sullivan 8:08.0 (88.2), 2 L Murphy, K Mackey 8:10.6 (87.7), 3 F Murtagh, K Wade 8:22.8 (85.6), 4 E Byrne, K McEneff 8:25.9 (85.1), 5 R Gilligan, H McCarthy 8:34.8 (83.6).
Sculling, Single – A Final: 1 S McCrohan 7:53.5 (senior; 92.9), 2 L Dilleen 7:55.3 (under-23 heavyweight; 91.5), 3 C Lambe 8:02.5 (under-23; 93.3), 4 E Moran 8:03.7 (heavyweight; 87.9), 5 Sarah Dolan 8:04.5 (under-23; 93.1), 6 D Walsh 8:13.8 (under-23; 91.3).
B Final: 1 H Nixon 8:14.9 (junior; 91.7), 2 O Hayes 8:26.2 (senior; 86.9), 3 Sinead Dolan 8:25.9 (under-23; 88.6). C Final: K Cromie 8:26.9 (89.6). D Final: B Walsh 8:39.5 (junior; 87.4).
Dolan and O'Donovan Shine at National Trials
Sarah Dolan, an under-23 lightweight, and Paul O’Donovan, a junior athlete, topped the rankings at the National Rowing Trials at the National Rowing Centre in Cork and made the A Finals of the single scull. Dolan registered 96.3 per cent of projected world gold medal winning time, while O’Donovan hit a mark or 95.7 per cent.
National Trials, National Rowing Centre, Cork (percentages in brackets of estimated world gold-medal winning time for the athlete’s grade). Senior athletes lightweight unless stated.
Men, Semi-Finals (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final)
Pair – A/B Semi-Final One (all juniors): 1 J Cassells, C Black 6:52.5 (94.1), 2 J Egan, A Kelly (7:03.2), 3 E Beechinor, K Synnott 7:03.6 (91.6); 4 C O’Riada, K Doyle 7:05.7 (91.2), 5 D Buckley, J Mitchell 7:15.2 (89.2).
A/B Semi-Final Two: 1 C Egan, F Tolan 6:57.4 (93.0), 2 L Seaman, H Millar 7:04.0 (91.5), 3 D Hindle, A Bell 7:05.3 (91.3); 4 S Hewitt, P Boomer 7:08.3 (90.6).
Sculling, Single - Semi-Final A/B One: 1 M Maher 7:06.0 (senior; 93.3 per cent), 2 S O’Driscoll 7.08.2 (under-23; 95.1), 3 P O’Donovan 7:o9.7 (junior; 95.7); 4 A English 7:11.4 (92.1), 5 J Mitchell 7:19.3 (92.7), 6 D Quigley 7:26.2 (92.2)
Semi-Final A/B Two: 1 M O’Donovan 7:07.9 (senior; 92.9), 2 N Kenny 7:09.2 (under-23; 94.9), 3 P Hanily 7:09.3 (under-23; 7:09.3); 4 J Ryan 7:10.7, 5 A Sheehan 7:29.6 (under-23; 91.5), 6 N Prenderville 7:32.5 (under-23; 90.9) * Ryan Goes Through to A Final, due to effect of launch.
C/D Semi-Final (all juniors) First Three To C Final – Semi-Final One: 1 M Monteith 7:24.6 (92.5), 2 P Hegarty 7:27.2 (92.0), 3 M Ryan 7:32.4 (90.9); 4 B Wilson 7:36.8 (90.1), 5 B Looney 7:38.4, 6 D Aherne 7:38.5 (89.7). C/D Semi-Final Two: 1 D Collins 7:29.1 (91.6), 2 A Griffin 7:31.7 (91.1), 3 C Kelly 7:32.3 (91.0); 4 P Leonard 7:35.1 (90.4), 5 J Casey 7:41.1 (89.2).
Women,
Single Scull – A/B Semi-Final One: 1 S McCrohan 7:43.9 (senior; 94.2), 2 C Lambe 7:50.9 (under-23; 7:50.9), 3 E Moran 7:55.4 (open senior; 88.8); 4 O Hayes 8:00.6 (senior; 91.0), 5 S Dineen 8:03.0 (junior; 93.4), 6 Sinead Dolan 8:15.9 (under-23; 90.4).
A/B Semi-Final Two: 1 Sarah Dolan 7:45.5 (under-23; 96.3), 2 L Dilleen 7:46.1 (u-23; 92.8), 3 D Walsh 7:49.5 (u23; 95.5); 4 H Nixon 7:54.5 (junior; 95.1), 5 C Deasy 8:12.2 (junior; 91.7), 6 R Shorten 8:16.2 (90.9).
C/D Semis (all juniors) – Semi-Final One: 1 K Cromie 8:09.5 (92.2), 2 L Litvack 8:16.3 (90.9), 3 K O’Brien 8:17.9 (90.6); 4 N O’Mahony 8:23.1 (89.7), 5 B Walsh 8:23.3 (89.6), 6 S Allen 8:26.9 (89.0). Semi-Final Two: 1 H Shinnick 8:10.7 (91.7), 2 B Jacques 8:12.7 (91.6), 3 L Connolly 8:17.0 (90.8); 4 G Hosford 8:17.1 (90.2), 5 L Hamel 8:22.7 (89.7).
University of Limerick and Keohane A League Ahead
The first Grand League rowing regatta of the season, hosted by Skibbereen at the National Rowing Centre in Cork, came successfully through a bout of fog. The fastest crew on the day were the University of Limerick/Garda senior eight, while John Keohane of Lee Valley and Becky Quinn of Three Castles were the fastest single scullers.
Skibbereen Regatta, National Rowing Centre, Cork, Sunday
Men
Eight – Divison One – A Final: 1 University of Limerick/Garda (senior) 6:01.02, 2 Trinity (under-23/senior) 6:03.05, 3 Neptune (intermediate) 6:04.69; 5 St Joseph’s (junior 18A) 6:12.15.
Division Two – A Final: 1 Trinity A (novice) 6:29.64, 2 UCC (nov) 6:35.37, 3 Trinity B (nov) 6:45.81; 4 St Michael’s (jun 16) 7:19.31. B Final: 1 UCD B (nov) 6:58.60, 2 St Joseph’s (jun 16) 7:01.38, 3 NUIG (nov) 7:07.41.
Four – Division One – A Final: 1 UCD A (senior) 6:22.39, 2 UCD B (sen) 6:29.47, 3 Commercial (sen) 6:34.00.
Four, coxed – Division One - A Final: Trinity (intermediate) 6:39.28, 2 Univ of Limerick (senior) 6:39.96, 3 UCD B (inter) 6:45.00. B Final: 1 Neptune (intermediate) 6:57.16, 2 Fossa (inter) 6:58.80, 3 NUIG (inter) 6:59.36); 5 Presentation (jun 18A) 7:21.80. Division Two – A Final: 1 UCC (novice) 6:55.61, 2 Cappoquin (nov) 6:59.11, 3 UCD A (nov) 7:02.33; 5 St Joseph’s A (jun 16) 7:23.49. B Final: 1 Workmen’s (novice) 7:10.14, 2 Clonmel (jun 16) 7:20.88, 3 St Michael’s (jun 16) 7:29.93.
Pair – Division One – A Final: 1 UCD B (senior) 7:07.81, 2 UCD A (sen) 7:11.76, 3 Commercial (sen) 7:19.40; 4 NUIG (inter) 7:25.25; 6 St Joseph’s (jun 18) 7:36.35. B Final: 1 Presentation (jun 18) 7:25.43, 2 St Michael’s (senior) 7:32.99, 3 Lee (jun) 7:33.60. C Final: Commercial/Carlow (u23/sen) 7:33.31.
Sculling, Quadruple – Division One – A Final: 1 Skibbereen (senior) 6:24.80, 2 Skibbereen (jun 18A) 6:27.50, 3 Carlow (jun 18A) 6:27.92. Division Two (coxed) – A Final: 1 Carlow (jun 18B) 7:09.09, 2 Neptune (jun 18B) 7:10.97, 3 Cork (jun 16) 7:11.23. B Final: 1 Neptune (jun 16) 7:23.32, 2 Col Chiarain (jun 16) 7:45.88, 3 Fermoy (jun 16) 7:55.38.
Double – Division One – A Final: 1 Muckross (senior) 6:46.41, 2 Skibbereen (sen) 6:55.41, 3 Cork/Neptune 7:04.47; 4 Lee (intermediate one) 7:06.39; 5 Skibbereen (jun 18A) 7:16.16. B Final: 1 UCC (intermediate) 7:09.84, 2 Neptune (jun 18A) 7:11.74, 3 Lee (jun 18A) 7:21.59. Division Two – A Final: 1 Cork (jun 16) 7:18.41, 2 Univ of Limerick (novice) 7:19.23, 3 Shannon (jun 16) 7:22.42; 5 Athlunkard (jun 18B) 7:40.98. B Final: 1 Graiguenamanagh (jun 18B) 7:41.55, 2 Lee (jun 16) 7:43.06, 3 Tralee (jun 18B) 7:48.74.
Single – Division One – A Final: 1 Lee Valley (Keohane; senior) 7:16.01, 2 Carlow (Brady; inter) 7:27.80, 3 Skibbereen (Murphy; sen) 7:29.58. B Final: 1 Skibbereen (O’Donovan; jun 18A) 7:25.42, 2 Grainne Mhaol (Mannion; senior) 7:32.01, 3 Three Castles (Folan; inter) 7:36.08. C Final: Clonmel (Prendergast; inter) 7:42.81. D Final: Univ of Limerick (Sheehan; inter) 8:00.00. E Final: Skibbereen (Murphy; inter) 8:18.69.
Division Two – A Final: 1 Neptune (Griffin; novice) 7:56.42, 2 Shandon (Casey; jun 16) 8:13.04, 3 Shannon (Radic; jun 18) 8:18.06. B Final: 1 Shandon (Harrington; jun 16) 8:16.11, 2 Shandon (Coffey; jun 18) 8:27.98, 3 Shannon (O’Carroll; novice) 8:28.98.
Women
Eight – Division One – A Final: 1 St Michael’s (jun 18A) 6:50.43, 2 Trinity (senior) 6:54.23, 3 NUIG (intermediate) 6:57.04; 5 Trinity (u23/senior) 7:06.39. Division Two – A Final: 1 NUIG (novice) 7:13.61, 2 UCC (nov) 7:14.07, 3 UCD (nov) 7:16.71; 5 Cork (jun 16) 7:23.04; 6 Commercial (jun 18B) 7:25.69. B Final: 1 Trinity C (novice) 7:22.23, 2 Killorglin (jun 16) 7:33.24, 3 Trinity B (nov) 7:34.28; 7 Athlone (jun 16) 10:00.83.
Four – Division One – A Final: 1 Muckross (senior) 7:23.62, 2 UCD (senior) 7:29.41, 3 Trinity (senior) 7:31.83; 4 Clonmel (junior 18A) 7:59.65.
Four, coxed – Division One – A Final: 1 Trinity (inter) 7:45.79, 2 NUIG (inter) 7:50.28, 3 UCD (inter) 8:01.89. Division Two – A Final: 1 Trinity (novice) 7:51.33, 2 NUIG (nov) 7:57.33, 3 Galway (jun 16) 8:01.52; 6 Clonmel (jun 18B) 8:18.28. B Final: 1 UCD B (nov) 8:06.59, 2 Trinity B (nov) 8:15.39, 3 Fermony (jun 18B) 8:30.62.
Pair – Division One – A Final: 1 St Michael’s (jun 18A) 8:13.64, 2 UCD (u23/senior) 8:18.20.
Sculling
Quadruple – Division One – A Final: 1 Skibbereen (u23/sen) 7:23.48, 2 UCD (senior) 7:33.75, 3 Shandon (junior) 7:46.03. Division Two – A Final: 1 Cork (jun 16) 8:01.23, 2 Commercial (jun 16) 8:12.81, 3 Galway (jun 16) 8:21.32. B Final: 1 Cappoquin (jun 16) 8:40.69; 3 Commercial (nov) 8:59.23. C Final: Cork (novice) 8:39.28.
Double – Division One – A Final: 1 Skibbereen (u23/sen) 7:48.93, 2 Univ of Limerick/Killorglin (senior) 8:01.02, 3 Skibbereen (jun 18) 8:06.83. B Final: 1 Shandon (jun 18A) 8:25.22, 2 St Michael’s (inter) 8:27.17, 3 UCC (inter) 8:52.65. Division Two – A Final: 1 Fermoy (jun 16) 8:17.80, 2 Shannon (novice) 8:22.14, 3 Univ of Limerick (nov) 8:26.38; 7 Carlow (jun 18B) 9:04.96. B Final: 1 St Michael’s (jun 16) 8:39.32, 2 Commercial (jun 16) 8:41.44, 3 Shandon (jun 18B) 8:59.64.
Single – Division One – A Final: 1 Three Castles (Quinn; lightweight) 8:17.41, 2 Skibbereen (Fitzgerald; inter one) 8:21.39, 3 Old Collegians (Walshe; senior) 8:27.23. B Final: 1 Trinity (Dolan; u23/senior) 8:21.16, 2 St Michael’s (O’Brien; jun 18A) 8:33.33, 3 Univ of Limerick (O’Sullivan; senior) 8:38.31.
Division Two – A Final: 1 Shandon (Mertz; jun 18B) 8:52.83, 2 Athlunkard (Green; jun 18B) 9:00.19, 3 Trinity (Dowling; novice) 9:16.15; 5 Tralee (Deady; jun 16) 9:46.58.
Skibbereen Keen to Defend Rowing Title
Other challengers this season will be runners up Neptune along with St. Michael's, Limerick, Commercial and UCD who all finished in the top five last season. Skibbereen Regatta sees a number of impressive crews start their challenge to become Grand League winners. With the absence of an NUIG entry, UCD's Senior 4 - stand out as the crew to watch. Muckross Olympians Sean Casey and Cathal Moynihan race together for the first time in the Senior 2x. As has been the trend, the men's Intermediate 1x has a large entry, as do all junior events. The Novice 8+ and 4+ Grand League titles look set to be fought for, mainly by the University clubs.
This is the second year the new Grand League will run at selected Irish regattas. The new format is designed to give competitive rowers more race time and allows all rowers to compete on speed as opposed to competing in strictly age-related or wins-related categories. The new system remains virtually unchanged from the 2010 season with all boats racing off in a series of heats which are timed, with the fastest six going into the A final and the next six into the B final.
Regatta hosts, Skibbereen RC, celebrated their 40th anniversary last year in impressive style, winning the Grand League and taking 14 national titles to bring the clubs' overall total to 123. They also hosted one of the country's best attended regattas last year with 456 crews racing. At international level, the club were well represented on national teams winning medals at the under 23 Worlds, the Coupe de la Jeunesse and Home Internationals.
The club capped off the year by opening a new boathouse, one of the largest ever built in Ireland. While the club's main emphasis is competitive rowing, they also take in 180 students for their annual schools rowing programme – an annual eight week course involving nine local schools.
The second Grand League regatta will be hosted by Queen's University in Castlewellan, Co. Down on May 14th.
UCD's Women's Senior Eight on Top at Neptune
UCD’s women’s senior eight maintained their advantage over Trinity by beating them in a straight final at Neptune rowing regatta, while in the men’s junior 18 eight final Colaiste Iognaid of Galway beat Carlow by one foot.
Neptune Regatta, Islandbridge, Saturday
Men, Eight – Intermediate: Neptune bt Galway ¾ l. Novice: UCD B bt Queen’s 1l. Junior 18: Col Iognaid bt Carlow 1 foot. Masters: Old Collegians bt Commercial canvas.
Four, coxed – Senior: Commercial bt Neptune ½ l. Intermediate: Queen’s bt Garda easily. Novice: UCD bt Fermoy A 2l. Junior 18: Athlone bt Col Iognaid 1l.
Quadruple, coxed – Novice: Neptune B bt Neptune A 1½ l. Junior 18: Carrick-on-Shannon bt Carlow disqualified. Junior 16: Bann bt Neptune easily. Double, coxed – Junior 16: Commercial bt Galway 4l. Single – Senior: Commercial (Dowling) bt Carlow (Murphy) 2l. Intermediate: Carlow (Brady) bt Carlow (Murphy) 2½ l. Junior 18: Neptune (Griffin) bt Neptune (Noone) 3l. Junior 16: Commercial (d’Estelle-Roe) bt Neptune (Callaghan) 1½ l.
Women, Eight – Senior: UCD bt Trinity 1¼ l. Intermediate: Trinity bt UCD, disqualified. Novice: UCD bt Trinity C 4l. Junior 18: Neptune bt Commercial 1¼ l.
Four, coxed – Senior: UCD bt Trinity 3l. Intermediate: Trinity bt UCD ½l. Novice: Neptune bt Trinity 3l.
Sculling, Quadruple, coxed – Novice: Neptune bt Commercial easily. Junior 18 (coxless): Neptune bt Col Iognaid B 2l. Junior 16: Fermoy bt Col Iognaid easily. Double – Junior 16: Carrick-on-Shannon bt Col Iognaid 3l.
Single – Intermediate: Shandon (Corcoran-O’Hare) bt Bann (Taggart) 2½ l. Novice: Commercial (Coughlan) bt Commercial easily. Junior 18: Fermoy (Shinnick) bt Commercial (Rodger) 3l.