Tipperary club looking forward to Under the Arches rowing challenge

River levels haven’t been conducive to rowing of late, but not to worry because Clonmel Rowing Club has its fleet of Concept 2 ergometers to keep rowers honest.

Last Saturday the club was able to see just how honest its rowers have been when they travelled to the UL sports arena for the Provincial Indoor Rowing Championships.

With 42 rowing machines on the stage, the races are intense and all-consuming and the  spectators wholeheartedly encourage the competitors to give it their all, and then some.

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First out of the blocks for Clonmel Rowing Club was Cormac Kennedy and he hung in there when the going got tough to come home in second place in the iRow category. 

Star of the show for Clonmel Rowing Club was the women’s relay team of Kate Fogarty, Eimear Sweeney, Millie Crean and Paulina Widmaier.

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Kate Fogarty has phenomenal power on the rowing machine and she already had two silver medals and a  bronze medal from her earlier races when the relay race rolled around.

Millie Crean also had a good day, picking up a bronze medal just behind Kate in the 500 metres and a fourth place, again just behind Kate in the 1,000 metres.

The team may be young, but they have plenty of experience of the relay and they delivered a flawless performance when changing rowers after their 250 metres shift. They covered the 2,000 metres in 6’56” for a comprehensive win and an excellent send-off for Paulina Widmaier, who returns to Germany next week.

In the women’s J18, Anna Kiely produced some of her best rowing to date to come third in the 1,000 metres. Just behind her was Eimear Sweeney, who finished fifth. 

Annie McGrath and Madison McGrath had their first outing in the J13 event. They both finished midway in the field and will build on Saturday’s experience for the future.

In the men’s J14 Alex O’Hara, Sean Fogarty, Conor Slattery and Joe O’Brien finished in mid division in a packed field. Once they get a bit more stamina, they should start to move up the ladder.

It’s a similar story for the J15 boys, Dominykas Valuzis, Cian Gregory and Sam Dowling, who all finished very close together in their group.

The Women’s J14 produced some exciting times, with just four seconds separating Paulina Widmaier and Dearbhla Sweeney. 
Donagh Ryan was the best of the Clonmel boys in the J13, coming in a creditable 14th in a 72-strong field.

Paul Nugent continues to get on the podium at UL, coming third in the 1,000 metres and the 2,000 metres masters 60-64 age category.

Coming up in December the Clonmel club has its Under the Arches ergometer rowing challenge, which takes place at the Main Guard.

This has been a very successful event over the last few years and we look forward to seeing you there.