#Rowing: Skibbereen added four titles to their already weighty tally on the first day of the Irish Rowing Championships at the National Rowing Centre today. Paul O’Donovan won the senior single sculls and teamed up with Mark O’Donovan, Shane O’Driscoll and his brother Gary in the senior four – both were done in new record times for the course. Paul and Gary also won the senior doubles. The Skibbereen women’s four also won well, in a new best time for the course.

NUIG also took four titles: the men’s intermediate coxed four and club eight and the women’s club coxed four and novice coxed quadruple.

Cork Boat Club proved best in the women’s intermediate eight and also won perhaps the best race of the day: Barry O’Flynn was severely tested by Jack Dorney in the junior single sculls but fought back after being passed and won by a length.

The Old Collegians victory in the women’s senior double was straightforward: Sanita Puspure and Claire Lambe were by far the best crew.

This was the last final of the day, while UCC had won the first, taking the men’s novice coxed quadruple.

Neptune and St Joseph’s tried to rein them in, but the men’s junior eights final was a surprsingly straightforward affair for winners Enniskillen, who also won the women’s junior four. Lee’s Margaret Cremen and Aoife Lynch were also in control in the women’s junior double, as were Hannah Scott and Katie Shirlow in the intermediate pair.

Irish Rowing Championships, National Rowing Centre, Day One (Selected Results)

Men

Eight – Club: NUIG 5:53.60. Junior: Enniskillen 5:47.96.

Four – Senior: Skibbereen 5:55.33. Inter, coxed: NUIG 6:13.38.

Sculling, Quadruple – Novice, coxed: UCC 6:39.37.

Double – Senior: Skibbereen 7:06.89.

Single – Senior: Skibbereen (P O’Donovan) 6:48.19. Junior: Cork (B O’Flynn) 7:04.06.

Women

Eight – Intermediate: Cork 6:22.06.

Four – Senior: Skibbereen 6:40.58. Club, coxed: NUIG 7:10.92. Junior: Enniskillen 6:57.94.

Pair – Inter: Bann 7:19.32.

Sculling, Quadruple – Novice, coxed: NUIG 7:36.02. Double – Senior: Old Collegians 6:59.997. Junior: Lee 7:09.86.

#Rowing: NUIG carried off the men’s and women’s senior eights at the Lough Rynn Regatta in Leitrim today. Enniskillen, the former Portora, won the men’s and women’s junior 18 titles. While the morning session had run off on time and with little disruption, the weather changed for the worse in the afternoon, with squalls and bouts of heavy rain. The programme ran late and junior 15 and junior 16 events were cancelled.

A composite crew from UCC and Shandon won the men’s senior double, while the Three Castles duo of Rory Quinn and Oisin Clune of Three Castles won the junior double.

Lough Rynn Regatta, Leitrim (Selected Results)

Men

Eight – Senior: 1 NUIG, 2 UCD. Intermediate: 1 UCD, 2 Commercial, 3 NUIG A. Jun 18: 1 Enniskillen, 2 Neptune, 3 Commercial. Club/Jun 16: NUIG. Masters: Athlone (f).

Four – Senior: 1 NUIG, 2 Enniskillen, Cork. Inter, coxed: 1 NUIG A, 2 Commercial, 3 Skibbereen. Club, coxed: 1 NUIG A, 2 NUIG B, 3 Enniskillen. Junior, coxed: 1 Enniskillen, 2 Methodist, 3 Commercial. Masters, coxed: Neptune A (e).

Pair – Inter: 1 Commercial A, 2 St Michael’s, 3 Belfast BC. Jun 18: 1 Commercial B, 2 Commercial A, 3 Commercial C.

Sculling, Quadruple – Club, coxed: 1 Carlow, 2 Enniskillen, 3 Col Iognaid. Jun 16, coxed: 1 Castleconnell. Sculling, Masters: City of Derry.

Double – Sen: 1 Shandon/UCC, 2 Castleconnell, 3 Shandon. Jun 18: 1 Three Castles A, 2 Castleconnell B. Club: 1 Portadown, 2 Clonmel, 3 St Joseph’s. Jun 16: Three Castles.

Single – Sen: 1 Skibbereen (K Mannix), 2 Skibbereen (J Lupton) 3 UCC (R Byrne). Intermediate: 1 Skibbereen (Mannix), 2 Carlow (Murphy), 3 Shandon (O’Sullivan). Masters b and c: Galway (Walkowiak); c: Clonmel (McGrath); d: Carlow (O’Brien): e: Galway (D Crowley); g and h: Belfast BC (Lockwood).

Women

Eight – Sen: 1 NUIG, 2 Commercial. Inter: 1 NUIG, 2 NUIG B. Nov: 1 Galway, 2 Enniskillen. Club: 1 NUIG A, 2 NUIG B. Jun 18: 1 Enniskillen, 2 Bann, 3 Col Iognaid. Jun 16: St Michael’s. Masters: Belfast BC (e). Jun 15: Enniskillen A.

Four – Sen: 1 Cork, 2 Commercial, 3 NUIG. Jun 18A:1 Enniskillen, 2 Commercial, 3 Col Iognaid. Inter, Club, Jun 16, coxed: NUIG (inter).

Pair – Senior/Inter: 1 Bann (inter), 2 Cork, 3 Belfast.

Sculling, Quadruple – Nov, coxed: 1 Neptune, 2 Galway, 3 King’s Hospital. Club, coxed: 1 Methodist, 2 King’s Hos, 3 Commercial. Jun 18: 1 Clonmel, 2 Belfast BC, Portadown, Bann (sen). 3 Comercial. Masters, coxed: Belfast BC. Jun 16: Castleconnell.

Double – Sen: 1 Neptune, 2 Carlow/Kenmare, 3 Garda/NUIG. Club: 1 Bann, 2 St Michael’s, 3 Carlow. Jun: 1 Castleconnell, 2 Commercial, 3 Portadown. Masters: Tribesmen A (d).

Single – Sen: 1 Cork (L Dilleen), 2 Skibbereen (L Heaphy), 3 Queen’s (O Blundell). Inter: 1 Bann (A O’Donovan), 2 Neptune (C Feerick), 3 Skibberee (L Heaphy). Jun 18: 1 Bann (H Scott), 2 Carlow (C Nolan), 3 Col Iognaid (Nic Dhonncha). Masters: City of Derry (M Nic Bhloscaidh; a).

#Rowing: The men’s quadruple gave four top internationals the chance to show their speed at Skibbereen Regatta. Shane O’Driscoll, Paul O’Donovan, Gary O’Donovan and Mark O’Donovan won in a very good time of six minutes 29.9 seconds. NUIG’s two women’s coxed fours were also impressive – the B crew won well from the A crew in the Division One A Final. Two junior 16 competitors from Castleconnell, Norma Silke and Lauren O’Brien, zoomed away from the rest to win the Division Two double sculls, while Lee’s senior crew took the honours in the women’s quadruple. Enniskillen’s junior 18 crew won the Division One coxed four.  

Skibbereen Grand League Regatta, National Rowing Centre, Day One (Selected Results; with Per Centage of Projected World Best Time)

Men

Eight – Division Two – A Final: 1 Queen’s (nov) 7:04.6. 3 Univ of Limerick (club two) 7:25.3, 6 Col Iognaid (jun 16) 7:40.6.

Four, coxed – Div One – A Final: 1 Enniskillen (jun 18A) 7:09.5 (82.18), 2 UCD (inter) 7:11.7 (81.78), 3 NUIG (sen) 7:12.9 (81.54). B Final: 2 NUIG (club one) 7:29.8 (78.48).

Pair – A Final: 1 Skibbereen (sen) 7:43.6 (80.46), 2 Commercial (sen) 7:50.8, 3 Enniskillen (jun 18A) 7:56.4; 4 Cork A (inter) 8:04.8 (76.95). C Final: 3 St Michael’s (club one) 8:10.1 (76.11).

Sculling,

Quadruple – Division One – A Final: 1 Skibbereen/UCD (sen) 6:29.9 (85.41), 2 Commercial (sen) 6:49.0 (81.42), 3 Shandon (jun 18A) 6:52.2 (80.79), 4 St Michael’s (club one) 7:11.0 (77.26).

Double – Div Two – A Final: 1 Castleconnell (jun 16) 8:51.7, 2 Shandon (club two) 9:17.3 (71.24). B Final: 2 Athlunkard (jun 18B) 9:57.4.

Single – A Final: 1 UCD (P O’Donovan; senior) 7:58.3 (81.78 per cent), 2 Skibbereen (G O’Donovan; sen) 8:03.4 (80.88), 3 UCD (A Goff; lightweight) 8:17.1 (78.66). B Final: 2 Skibbereen (K Mannix; intermediate) 8:21.6 (77.95); 5 Three Castles (R Quinn; jun 18A) 8:36.4 (75.71).

Women

Eight – Div Two – A Final: 1 Shandon (club two) 7:47.5; 4 NUIG (nov) 8:09.8. 5 Col Iognaid (jun 16) 8:12.8. Four, coxed – Division One – A Final: 1 NUIG B (inter) 8:03.5 (80.87),  NUIG A (inter) 8:12.6 (79.37), 3 Cork (sen) 8:18.4 (78.45); 6 UCC (club one) 8:40.7 (75.9).

Pair – A Final: 1 UCC (sen) 8:39.8 (79.06), 2 Cork (inter) 8:40.5 (78.96), 3 Fermoy (jun 18A) 8:47.1 (77.97). B Final: 3 Belfast BC (club one) 9:14.9 (74.07); 6 Cork A (jun 18A) 9:35.7 (71.39)

Sculling

Quadruple – Div One – A Final: 1 Lee (sen) 7:35.2 (80.18), 2 Fermoy, Carlow, Skibbereen, Kenmare 7:36.6 (79.94), 3 Workmans (jun 18A) 7:48.1 (77.98).

Div Two, coxed – A Final: Cork (jun 18B) 8:34.6, 2 Lee A (club two) 8:47.4, 3 Carlow (jun 16), 4 Garda (club two) 9:00.0. B Final: 2 UCD A (nov) 9:21.4.

Double – Div Two – A Final: 1 Castleconnell (jun 16) 8:51.7, 2 Shandon (club two) 9:17.3. B Final: 2 Athlunkard (jun 18B) 9:57.4.

Single – A Final: 1 Old Collegians (S Puspure; sen) 8:33.5 (82.97), 2 Killorglin (M Dukarska; sen) 8:45.0 (81.14), 3 UCD (A Crowley; inter) 9:06.8 (77.91). B Final: 3 Col Iognaid (C Nic Dhonncha; jun 18A) 9:38.1 (73.69), 4 Lee Valley (E O’Mahony; club one) 9:45.6 (72.75).

#Rowing: Lagan Head of the River in Belfast on Saturday drew a strong representation of clubs from Dublin and Northern Ireland. The Queen’s University novice eight was fastest in the first head, with Trinity intermediates next fastest. Single sculler Hannah Scott of Bann set an excellent time.

 The event had good rowing conditions. It had to contend with competition with the refixed St Michael’s Head at O’Brien’s Bridge.

Lagan Head of the River, Belfast, Saturday (selected results)

Race One

Men

Eight – Novice: Queen’s 10:58.3.

Four – Inter: Trinity (coxed) 11:05.8. Club One, coxed: Methody 11:22.0. Nov, coxed: Queen’s 11:14.0. Jun 18A: Enniskillen 10:44.5. Masters, coxed: Belfast BC/Belfast RC 12:18.0.

Pair – Sen: Queen’s 11:36.5. Jun 18A: Commercial 13:20.2.

Sculling,

 Quadruple – Club One, coxed: CGS 11:24.3. Nov: Queen’s A 12:46.2.  Jun 18A:  Methody B 10:57.9. Jun 16, coxed: Bann 11:21.0.

Double – Sen: Queen’s 11:55.4. Club One: Enniskillen 12:13.3. Jun 18A: Enniskillen 12:31.5. Jun 16: Enniskillen 12:20.5. Masters: Portadown E111 13:09.3.

Single – Senior: Queen’s (C Beck) 11:33.8. Inter: Lagan (W Gilbert) 12:44.6. Club One: Portadown (A Lavins) 12:58.2. Jun 18A: Bann (A Christie) 12:10.8. Masters: Molesey C (R Shirley) 12:37.0.

Women

Eight - Novice: Queen’s A 12:25.7. Jun 15: Enniskillen C 12:21.6.

Four – Club One, coxed: Queen’s 13:17.7. Masters, coxed: Belfast RC 15:42.8.

Pair – Sen: Queen’s C 13:20.2.

Sculling,

Quadruple – Club One, coxed: Portadown 13:49.4. Nov, coxed: Queen’s 13:49.0. Jun 18A: Belfast RC 13:15.4. Jun 16: Bann 12:48.1. Masters: Lagan/Belfast BC 13:47.5.

 Double – Sen: Fermoy/Queen’s 12:23.4. Club One: Queen’s 13:40.8. Jun 18A: Enniskillen B 12:45.2.

Single – Inter: Bann (K Shirlow) 13:46.1. Club One: Methody (R McBrinn) 13:34.1. Jun 18A: Bann (H Scott) 12:40.4.

Race Two

Men

Eight – Senior: Queen’s 14:15.9. Inter: Enniskillen 14:22.3. Club One: Neptune 15:50.3. Jun 18A: Commercial 14:55.2. Masters: Commercial, OCBC, Belfast BC, Neptune 15:29.9.

Four – Sen: Queen’s 16:06.1. Sen, coxed: Belfast RC 16:34.6.

Sculling

Quadruple – Sen: Lagan 15:35.4.

Women

Eight – Inter: Queen’s 17:02.6. Club One: Queen’s B 19.22.8. Jun 18A: Enniskillen 17:02.0. Jun 16: Enniskillen A 18.24.3.

Four – Sen: Belfast BC, Methody 18:25.0. Sen, coxed: Belfast RC 19.50.6.

Sculling

Quadruple – Sen: Bann, Fermoy, Methody, Queen’s 17:17.8.  

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland will be throwing open the WI Archive to the public on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September to celebrate European Heritage Open Days 2016.

Waterways Ireland HQ in Enniskillen will be open between 12pm and 5pm both days next weekend for free guided tours of the archives and building.

All are welcome to pop in for a visit and discover some of the interesting engineering maps, drawings and images of the waterways from the past 150 years.

To find out more email [email protected] or visit the Discover Northern Ireland website to download a brochure on all the special heritage events next weekend.

#Rowing: Trinity’s senior A eight were clear winners of the Erne Head of the River today. The Dublin University crew had 19 seconds to spare over the Commercial senior eight. Portora’s junior 18 eight placed sixth, while the fastest women’s crew were the Trinity senior eight, which finished 16^th.

#Rowers of the Month: The Afloat Rowers of the Month for November are Barney Rix of Portora and Ronan Byrne of Shandon. The two young men set new Irish records in indoor rowing. Byrne set a new junior record of six minutes 16.9 seconds at the Provinces Indoor Championships in Limerick. Rix, who had won the junior section at the Irish Indoor Championships early in the year, competed just two days after the Limerick test in Enniskillen – and lowered the record by .1 of a second to 6:16.8.

 Rower of the Month awards: The judging panel is made up of Liam Gorman, rowing correspondent of The Irish Times 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 2015. Keep a monthly eye on progress and watch our 2015 champions list grow.

#RNLI - Enniskillen RNLI is looking for new volunteer crew members to join its search and rescue service on both Upper and Lower Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh.

The lifeboat station currently has 40 volunteers to cover its inshore service on the Lower Lough at Killadeas and the Upper Lough at Carrybridge but is now calling on new volunteers to come forward and find out how they can get involved and help the station to continue to save lives on inland waterways.

And to that end, the station will be hosting an open evening at the new lifeboat station at Carrybridge next Thursday 29 October for all interested candidates to learn more.

Enniskillen RNLI was established in May 2001 and became the charity’s first inland lifeboat station. Today, a great team spirit between Enniskillen’s management, crew and committee members creates an efficient and professional service on the Lough Erne waterway, which works closely with other emergency services to keep water users safe.

Last year, Enniskillen RNLI launched 59 times and brought 57 people to safety.

Now, Jimmy Dundas, Enniskillen RNLI lifeboat operations manager on Lower Lough Erne, is calling on any volunteers who may be interested to come along to the station on Thursday evening and find out more.

"We are looking for anyone aged 17 years and over who is willing to offer some of their free time to join what I believe to be, one of the most exhilarating and rewarding voluntary services that is out there," he says.

"Every volunteer receives first class training from the RNLI and learns new skills which can benefit them in many walks of life. Lifeboat crew members need to have a reasonable level of fitness, have good eyesight and not be colour blind.

"Anyone who would like to volunteer but feels they would not meet the requirements for lifeboat crew should in no way be put off, as shore crew also play an essential role in the launch and recovery of the lifeboat when it goes on service."

Anyone who feels they have the time and commitment to volunteer for the charity, which is on call 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, is asked to email Jimmy at [email protected].

Alternatively, prospective volunteers can come along to the station’s open evening from 7pm on Thursday 29 October at Carrybridge lifeboat station.

#RNLI - Enniskillen RNLI rescued two people on Sunday evening (27 September) after a kayak was reported to have capsized at the mouth of the Colebrook River.

The volunteer lifeboat crew based on Upper Lough Erne at Carrybridge were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch both their inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft (RWC) at 5.52pm.

The man and woman who came off the kayak had managed to swim ashore, raise the alarm using their mobile phone and let the coastguard know they were on an island.

The inshore lifeboat, helmed by Chris Cathcart, launched immediately along with the RWC. Weather conditions at the time were described as good with light airs and good visibility.

Following a search, the lifeboat crew located the casualties on the northern side of Inishcorkish Island. They were both cold and the woman was shaking and showing signs of hypothermia.

The crew immediately transferred both people to the lifeboat and began to administer casualty care. They were then brought to the shore at Knockninny Marina where they were medically assessed and made comfortable. The RWC then recovered the vessel back to Knockninny Marina.

Speaking following the callout, Enniskillen RNLI helm Chris Cathcart said: "The water was cold yesterday and the casualties had been in the lough for about 15 minutes during their swim to the island.

"They had prepared for their trip by carrying a means of communication and thankfully they were able to raise the alarm using their mobile phone. We wish them both a speedy recovery from their ordeal."

As reported on Afloat.ie earlier today, HM Coastguard is co-ordinating an ongoing search for an overdue sea kayaker off Portmuck in Co Antrim, concentrating on the area around the Gobbins coastal path.

#ROWING: Portora Royal School brought Ireland’s winning total to two on the first day of Henley Royal Regatta. The crew from Enniskillen got off to a good start against King’s College School from Wimbledon in the Princess Elizabeth for schoolboy eights and stretched their lead to one length. But the Wimbledon boys would not give up. They ate into the lead coming up to the line and lost by just two thirds of a length.

Trinity had earlier won in the first round of the Temple Cup for student eights.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day One (Irish interest)

Temple Cup (Eights, Student): Trinity bt Pembroke and Caius Colleges, Cambridge 3¼ l, 6min 49 seconds

Princess Elizabeth (Eights, Schoolboy): Portora Royal School bt King’s College School, Wimbledon 2/3 l, 7:04

Wyfolds (Fours, Club): Nottingham RC ‘A’ bt Lady Elizabeth BC 2½ l, 7:39