Carrick Sprint Regatta will be the place to be for rowing on Sunday, 3rd August, as over 250 rowing crews have entered for the 2025 gathering in Carrick on Shannon. This is the last regatta of the year that will bring the curtain down on a very long, exciting season for Carrick RC, which has brought the club all round the country to many Heads of the River, regattas aplenty and also the running and hosting of Carrick Head at Lough Rinn, Lough Rinn Regatta and the Rowing Ireland 1K Classic all at the Mohill venue.
Whilst Carrick Regatta is always a popular favourite with all ages, the reintroduction of the Rowing Ireland/Waterways Ireland "Row for it League" has ensured the return of some extra competitors to Leitrim for the final round of this League this year. The league finale in Carrick carries double points for winning crews after previous rounds at regattas in Limerick, Carlow, Castleconnell and Athlone. Many of these host clubs will be amongst those battling it out for league honours on the North Shannon, so we can expect some thrilling high-stakes racing. The league is primarily a grow the sport initiative as part of the Rowing Ireland and Waterways Ireland strategic partnership for Junior Coxed Quads at Under 13, 14 and 15s.
Speaking of the Row for it League at its launch, John McDonagh, Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland, noted, "Waterways Ireland is delighted to work with our partners in Rowing Ireland to grow participation in on-water activity on the inland waterways. Rowing, organised through the huge number of clubs across the waterways provides significant local, easy access to leisure and competitive sport with social, health, & well-being advantages for all the participants.
The league will only feature as part of the programme on the day as we will offer sculling, double scull, 4's and 8's across the age categories and grades. For those not familiar with the Regatta, racing will take place south of the bridge in Carrick and is best viewed from the Boardwalk or the Quays adjacent to the Moonriver mooring area as crews strive for the line.
As always wonderful informative commentary will accompany racing as Club stalwart Gabriel Cox keeps a watchful eye on proceedings. He will be ably assisted by a team of volunteers working on and off the water as umpires, marshals, slip stewards and safety officers keep the regatta moving and on time. We also call on the skilled and dedicated crews from Waterways Ireland on the day and in advance of the event to help prepare and close the river. They in turn are supported by our excellent Leitrim Civil Defence with on the water and First Aid support.
We thank them all in advance of the occasion and also our parents committee who put on a fantastic spread of food on the day to raise some needed income for the club. This past year has seen the purchase of a new club Jeep for drawing boats to Regattas, a new (and badly needed) Boat Trailer for safe and efficient transportation of our fleet and a number of new boats. While we can rely on the National Lottery Sports Capital fund we also need events like our Regatta to be success to help acquire the required match funding. This is no small feat for a small club in south Leitrim. The Regatta will run from approximately 9am through to 5,30 pm with a break for lunch at 1pm.
In other rowing news many of our own crews have returned from the recent National Championships in Iniscarra, Co Cork. While they did not achieve any "Pots" this year our young oars committed themselves very well and performed their very best with good rowing over the course of the weekend. They were assisted as always by our Junior 18 and 16s Coach Mr. Mark Butler who again has put in a dedicated season with these athletes. Carrick slipped crews in a number of very competitive categories including the Mens J18 Quad, Mens J16 Double and Single, Womens Club Single, Womens J18 Single, Womens J16 Quad, Double and Single.
A huge credit for slipping these crews must go to their previous coaches who brought them through the Junior grades successfully and who continue to work with crews who competed at regattas elsewhere around the country this year. Our Club Captain Maeve Hoolahan must take a huge credit for the sterling work undertaken this year with all the coaches and age grade athletes.
Kilnagross native and former Carrick Oar Mr. Thomas Earley did give something to shout about as he stroked both the UCD Senior 8+ and Senior 4- boats to a double first at the "Champs", these wins draw Fintan level with older brother and also former member of the club Thomas Earley who now rows out of Cork Boat Club with 5 National Senior Rowing medals. The club are very proud of the exploits of these former members and their excellence at National level.
The President, Committee and Members look forward to welcoming visitors to the Shannon this weekend, to our club and to our beautiful town. We also would like to send our best wishes to the Inland Waterways fleet who are enjoying the North Shannon this year on their annual rally. We would like to thank all the generous sponsors and donors to our club without whom we could not undertake our ongoing activities.
We remind you all to who cannot make the day be sure to keep an eye online where Carrick on Shannon's team of master photographers Mark Kelly, Gerry Faughnan and Keith Nolan will all capture the events of the day in stills, video and a few overhead drones to get the very best of the day.
