It’s been a weekend full of Sprints with Castleconnell, Belfast and Bantry holding their 500m events last Saturday!
Castleconnell Sprint Regatta
Castleconnell Boat Club held its biggest Sprint Regatta ever on May 20th, hosting 699 crews from all over Ireland. Races ran every four minutes from 8:30am until 7:10pm, through all four seasons of weather, and more than 100 medals were earned for first-place finishes.
Many were new rowers in the J13 categories, and all but a few remained upright and finished their races, which Club Captain Colin Byrne commended.
“It’s not easy to get out there when you’re new, when you’re young, and when you’re in a scull, but these young people didn’t flinch,” he said. “You really could feel that these kids are the future of the sport.”
Spectators commented on the sportsmanship on display among competitors, who readily helped each other out and just generally had a great time together.
The club noted that countless groups and volunteers came together in the weeks leading up to the regatta to make it all happen, from the local national school and football club, who volunteered for the first time coordinating parking in the tiny village, to ESB, which repaired bridges in the woods next to the boathouse, making for some stellar race-watching spots long the 500m course. As always the parents and friends of CCBC rowers showed up in droves to do all manner of dirty but necessary jobs to host such an event.
“We in the sport know how much clubs rely on these events for much-needed funds, and we’re so grateful for everyone who was a part of it,” Byrne said.
Results from the event can be found HERE
Swift Irish Masters Coastal Championships
Event report from Barbara Johnson, Olderfleet Club Captain:
It was a privilege to host the Inaugural Swift Masters Coastal Championships 2023 in Glenarm. A great day of racing across all categories.
For many of our rowers this was their first coastal regatta, some only rowing for a few of months! We are so proud of the achievements of our club both on and off the water in both organising such a successful event and taking part in the racing. Medals or no medals, everyone is a winner.
Thank you to all of the clubs that made the journey, whether it was a few miles or longer drives, flights, boat crossings, your support and participation is greatly appreciated. Thank you to Neville Maxwell our Rowing Ireland president for sharing our day and presenting the medals. To our event sponsors, thank you so much as this would not be possible without your support.
Possibly one of our proudest moments of the regatta…we were so pleased to introduce a para category for the first time in the Swift Irish Coastal Championships. Well done to Martha Owen and Gaynor Martin from Fishguard & Goodwick Jemima Rowing Club who raced in the Masters W2x. They came in fourth in the overall category and received Rowing Ireland pins for recognition of their performance. Let’s hope this is only the beginning of opportunities for para rowers to compete at this level in Coastal events.
Thank you to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for their help and support throughout the event.
Lastly, a huge thank you to David Hussey and the committee for their guidance, support and participation.
Results from the event can be found on the Olderfleet RC Facebook page HERE
Belfast Sprints
There were 150 crews of all ages and levels of experience and if you were able to thank all the volunteers and officials for their help and all the clubs who attended on behalf of Belfast Rowing Club that would be great
150 crews of all ages and levels of experience took to the lagan to race head to head over 500m at the annual Belfast Sprints Regatta. It was a hugely enjoyable day for all those involved, from the rowers who were racing to the volunteers making it all happen!
Belfast Rowing Club also wishes to extend their thanks to all of the officials and volunteers who helped on on the day, pulling off another successful event!
Results from the event can be found HERE
