Tipperary rowers were happy to be back on the water

The enforced absence from the river for the previous seven weeks due to high water levels on the Suir hampered the preparation of Clonmel Rowing Club crews, and their fears were confirmed at Cork Head of River (HOR).

Performances were subdued and at this stage, coaches’ reputations are on the line.

Oisin Walsh was the best of the Clonmel men’s junior scullers, coming in seventh place in a very large field with Edward Wall and Darragh Noonan finishing 44 and 56 seconds further back.

The race started at the Port of Cork headquarters in the city and covered four kilometres out to Blackrock Castle.

The Clonmel women’s J18 4x of Eimear Sweeney, Iola Cummins, Kate Fogarty and Millie Crean always give value for money and they finished fourth behind a promising Cork BC crew.

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Kate and Millie later went in the 2x, where they again came fourth. Close but no cigar.

The Clonmel women’s j14 4x+ were in at the deep end on this occasion, but they are very young and will improve over time.
The club also had a j15 8x+ which is really a developmental crew, but they managed to clinch fourth place after an early mishap with an oar.

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The masters crew of Michelle O’Halloran, Nicola Keating, Mary Jane Brassill and Ruth Hennessy, with Aoife Matthews doing the steering, came home in seventh place and they know that this result is not a true reflection of their worth.

The men’s masters 4x of Ronnie Corbett, Tom O’Donnell, Ken Hennessy and Paul Nugent, with Mary Jane Brassill in the cox’s seat, had a very solid row, which was good enough to earn second place.

All in all, the rowers were happy to be back on the water and there is still plenty of time left in the season to improve.