Tipperary rowers competed on both sides of the Atlantic in Boston and Seville

Last weekend Clonmel Rowing Club had a men’s crew and a women’s crew competing at the Seville Masters Regatta in Spain, while Sandra Wall and Michelle Gregory were involved in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.

The sheer scale of this Boston event is jaw-dropping, with rowers from all across the globe converging on the three-mile stretch of water from De Wolfe boathouse to the final 700 metres just past Eliot Bridge.

It was Michelle Gregory’s first time rowing in this iconic event and she was still buzzing when we caught up with her.  She described the race as a mix of nerves, grit and absolute exhilaration.

Under picture-perfect skies and benign rowing conditions, the Charles River came alive over three days with 12,000 athletes, ranging in age from 13 to 93, cheered on by the hundreds of thousands of spectators lined up along the banks and the unmistakable energy of one of rowing’s great traditions.

READ NEXT: Tipperary is one of the top global holiday destinations for 2026, according to Lonely Planet

The Irish women’s masters crew of Carol Sanchez, Michelle Gregory, Sandra Wall and Niamh Barrett, coxed by Joy McAleer finished in 12th place in a 40- strong field.

There are lots of bends and seven bridges to negotiate on the course and well done to the team for keeping the flag flying for Irish rowing in such a prestigious event.

SEE MORE: Muintir na Tire in Tipperary celebrates 40 years of Community Alert

Clonmel’s Daire Lynch was also rowing out there along with Fintan McCarthy, Philip Doyle and Konan Pazzaia.

They were the form boat to beat in the Director’s Challenge 4x race. There were no mishaps with the steering and they duly obliged with a winning margin of 15 seconds.

On the other side of the Atlantic in Seville the Clonmel men’s crew of Ken Hennessy, Ronnie Corbett, Jean Marc Fage and Andrew Bourke left it late, but better late than never.

In the final they trailed the leaders Club Remo Unitas all the way to the 750 metres mark.

These guys have tremendous stamina and when stroke Ken Hennessy pressed the button with 250 metres to go, the surge of power catapulted the Clonmel boat into the lead for a memorable victory.

Ronnie and Andrew also raced the 2x and they came in just outside the medals  in fourth place.

Ken Hennessy very nearly made it a double when rowing in the composite 8. In one of the most exciting races of the day, they were pipped on the line by Club Remo Barcelona.

With temperatures hitting 30 degrees, the Clonmel women’s quad of Michelle O’Halloran, Nicola Keating, Mary Jane  Brassill and Ruth Hennessy rowed above and beyond themselves to fill the third spot behind two formidable Great Britain crews, putting clear water between themselves and the French and Spanish crews.

Nicola and Michelle also rowed the 2x and they can feel chuffed to have set a new personal best time when they finished in fourth place.

The club’s other 2x of Mary Jane and Ruth also came fourth in the C category and they are satisfied that they gave 100 percent on the day.

At the end of the regatta the crews had a very enjoyable lunch as guests of the Club Deportivo Remo Sevilla and look back with great pride on how far they have progressed in rowing. 

The Clonmel club extends its sympathy to the family of Philly Ryan, manager of the Tipperary football team and brother of Andy Ryan, who died suddenly, RIP. 

Clonmel Rowing Club travels to Castleconnell HOR this Saturday, October 25.