Good weekend for Tipperary rowers at Graiguenamanagh and Skibbereen regattas

Clonmel Rowing Club (CRC) managed the art of bilocation at the weekend, sending a crew to Graiguenamanagh, while the main body of rowers attended the Skibbereen regatta, which was held over two days at the National Rowing Centre.

Down in Graiguenamanagh the women’s quad of Mary O’Gorman, Agata Goralczyk, Patricia Matthews and Joanne Power acquitted themselves well, coming into second place after a blistering race with New Ross and Carlow crews.

Crossing over the country to Inniscarra, the lake can be unforgiving at times, but with the weather playing ball for a change, the racing took place in ideal conditions. The rowers got the opportunity to race the Grand League format over a six-lane course. It was also the first opportunity for CRC to show off their smart new rowing kit and the duo of James Hurley and Gerald Nugent wore the blue and white vertical stripes with distinction.

Gerald Nugent and James Hurley wore Clonmel Rowing Club's smart new rowing kit with distinction at Inniscarra last weekend

On Saturday they won the club coxless pair from Coláiste Iognaid and Skibbereen and on Sunday they competed in the club 2x competition, completing the double.

James Hurley had to go again in the Men’s J18 A 4x. Rowing with his brother Brian and Rory Keely and Benjamin Wall replacing the injured Cian Mellerick, they brought the quad into a very good third place.

Our mens J14 4x+ also rowed into a great third place. The crew was Joshua Kiely, Christopher Kane, Dominykas Valuzis, Edward Wall and coxed by Alan Murphy.

We had three boats competing in the Men’s J16 2x. Darren Kane and Keelan Hogan were the best of our crews in this event.
In the Women’s J18 B 1x Kate Meehan continues to show improvement and in the final she finished third behind the Fermoy and Cork scullers.

With over 50 scullers competing in the Men’s J18 B 1x, Sam Fleming had a great row, finishing in fourth place.

In the Masters categories, Clonmel women showed the men how it’s done when the 4x+ crew of Chris Morrissey, Branwen Kelly, Sandra Wall and Michelle Gregory, with Millie Crean steering, emerged victorious.

Sandra Wall later teamed up with Helen Mhic Chonmara to take the win in the 2x E category. In the E category Michelle Gregory and Chris Morrissey were pipped at the post after they clipped a buoy.

In the Men’s masters 1 x Paul Nugent claimed the third spot behind the Portora and Lee Valley scullers.

The Men’s masters 4x+ of father and son Andy and Stephen Ryan, with Paul Nugent and Donal Lyons in the engine room and Linda Forristal press ganged into coxing, rowed well, finishing ahead of the two Lee crews but behind Galway.

Andy and Donal found that they were in at the deep end when they came up against the world ergometer champion Paul Gallen and a very good Portora sculler.

Stephen Ryan, rowing with his Shannon partner, won their 2x race well.

Overall, CRC results were very encouraging at a very well-attended regatta.

The sport of rowing is in a great place, with record numbers competing across all categories. We have seven boats going to the Olympics including our own Daire Lynch in the heavyweight 2x. So come on everybody, let’s keep the momentum going and if you can support us through the club lotto, we would be very appreciative.

This weekend we go to Castleconnell sprints.