Sterling performances by Tipperary rowers at London Met Regatta
Clonmel’s Laura Meehan was successful with UL
Clonmel Rowing Club members are heading off to Inniscarra for the Munster Branch regatta this weekend on the back of some great performances at the London Met Regatta.
London Met Regatta attracts top crews from all across the UK and is a favourite testing ground for Irish crews preparing for the Irish Rowing Championships.
It is held on the Thames on Dorney Lake in Buckinghamshire, the venue for the 2012 Olympic Games Regatta, and just two miles from Windsor Castle.
Eight Clonmel rowers, now representing their colleges and clubs, took part in last weekend’s event. When the regatta wrapped up on Sunday evening they had achieved great results, with four of the crews qualifying for A finals and Laura Meehan landing the spoils in the women's championship Fours A final after a hotly-contested battle with Neptune Rowing Club.
Crews initially row a 2k time trial to determine their seeding and qualify to row in the A final, B final etc. all the way down to the K final. There are five former Clonmel rowers in the UG squad and they would be the first to acknowledge the role that the Clonmel club has played in bringing them to elite standard.
With all of the talent that UG has, it is worth noting that three members of the Senior 8 have Clonmel origins; James Hurley, Gerald Nugent and Donnacha Keeley. With eight boats in the final of the Senior 8s, three of them were Irish - UG, Commercial and Cork Boat Club, coxed by Sarah Lonergan.
The Irish boats weren't quick enough off the start and it was a case of playing catch-up down the course with Thames Rowing Club, London Rowing Club and Marlow laying down the power. Eventually UG finished fifth, with Cork Boat Club just behind them.
Tom Whelan was in the UCD 8 in the C final and this crew finished like a train to climb up into third place. Sam Fleming was in the E final and this crew finished fourth.
Lucy Mulcahy and Laura Meehan were in the UL boats. UL had a very good regatta, winning a number of races including the women's championship 4s, with Laura in the bow seat.These girls now have their sights firmly set on the Irish Intermediate 4s championship and they should be among the favourites.