Paddle hard and paddle fast was the name of the game as the first annual 'The Eye Race' took place in the waters of Howth Sound and Ireland’s Eye last weekend.
Event 7 in The Irish Winter SUP Race Series, organised by Discover SUP and hosted at Howth Yacht Club, this brand new stand-up paddle boarding competitive event attracted 26 entrants from all over
the island of Ireland, ranging from members of previous Irish World Championship teams to first-timers.
Following an unusual week of intense easterlies and resulting swells, on race day the weather gods conspired to deliver low winds and relatively calm waters with small bumps, providing perfect conditions for an exciting and testing SUP race.
Twenty-four boards lined up at the start, divided into two classes - Class 1 for touring and race boards 11ft+, Class 2 for all-round boards 11ft and less.
From early on, Class 1 was led out by the current series leaders in their respective categories, Ross McGarry and Mary Dowling, as they took on their 11.5km course. In Class 2, current male series leader Paul Kiernan had a fight on his hands before he secured his lead position, while Sinead Murphy, brand new to the racing scene, took the 5.5km course in her stride as the only female in her category.
Inaugural 'The Eye Race' at Howth Yacht Club - twenty-four boards lined up at the start, divided into two classes - Class 1 for touring and race boards 11ft+, Class 2 for all-round boards 11ft and less. Photo: Annraoi Blaney
The choice of board style was a critical decision given the off-shore nature of the courses. The pay-off in choosing faster and narrower flatwater boards didn’t come to pass for those riding them, as they
fought to stay upright in the bumps of Howth Sound.
Event 7 in The Irish Winter SUP Race Series was organised by Discover SUP and hosted by Howth Yacht Club Photo: Annraoi Blaney
In the end, 23 boards crossed the finish line as rain and hail came down in short bursts. But that didn’t put pay to the energy and positive vibe as the fleet came ashore again to refuel in the comfort
of HYC.
Stand-up Paddle Board 'The Eye Race' at Howth Yacht Club Results
Class 1 - Female
1 - Mary Dowling - 01:34:20
2 - Carla Milne - 01:48:56
3 - Melanie McGimpsey - 02:00:57
RET - Maria McGivern
Class 1 - Male
1 - Ross McGarry - 01:14:41
2 - Patrick McCormack - 01:22:08
3 - David Mangan - 01:27:07
4 - Ryan Vekins - 01:46:10
5 - Gary Mcclure - 01:48:17
6 - Patrick Murtagh - 01:49:46
7 - Ed Ruane - 01:51:23
8 - Steven Bishop - 01:52:37
9 - Darren Cox - 01:55:27
10 - Pierre Schneider - 01:56:42
11 - Noel Munnis - 02:03:14
DNS - Karl Walsh
Class 2 - Female
1 - Sinead Murphy - 59:57
Class 2 - Male
1 - Paul Kiernan - 47:10
2 - Colm Kenny - 49:12
3 - Roy McHugh - 49:31
4 - Conor Battigan - 51:05
5 - Martin Rowe - 56:18
6 - Ciaran Shorthall - 57:39
7 - Gary O Connor - 57:41
8 - Iain Hall - 58:35
DNS - Sean Halpin
