Irish Masters rowers returned from the 2026 World Rowing Masters Regatta in Bled, Slovenia, with race wins, podium finishes and plenty of memories from five days of racing on one of the sport’s most iconic courses.
The 2026 regatta was the largest rowing regatta ever staged, bringing together more than 4,700 athletes from 51 countries, with 11 Rowing Ireland affiliated clubs represented across the programme. (Read more: 2026 World Rowing Masters Regatta in Bled Set to Become the Biggest Rowing Regatta in History – World Rowing )
While the racing remained fiercely competitive, the week was also a reminder of one of rowing’s great strengths: it can remain part of a person’s life long after junior or senior competition has finished.
Belfast success on and off the water – Club spotlight
Belfast Rowing Club travelled to Bled with a strong group of Masters rowers, including two Women’s A quadruple sculls and a Women’s A eight.
Alana O’Donovan enjoyed a particularly successful week, taking first place in the Women’s A single sculls before teaming up with Bekki for another race win in the Women’s A double sculls.
Belfast’s Women’s A eight of Bekki, Alana, Laura, Eyrin, Angie, Fiona, Niamh and Jordan added a third-place finish, while the club’s two Women’s A quads finished fourth and sixth respectively.
Reflecting on the week, Alana said that while the weather in Bled was challenging at times, it did little to dampen the experience.
“The weather was pretty awful at times, but honestly, it didn’t really matter because the atmosphere was so enjoyable. It was inspiring to see so many people from Belfast Rowing Club racing and supporting each other throughout the week.”
For Alana, the attraction of Masters rowing goes well beyond results.
“I think it’s the people just as much as the racing. It’s also great having something to train towards and then getting to travel to beautiful locations like Lake Bled with your teammates.”
That sense of club connection was particularly evident within the Belfast group.
“We had a really big group from Belfast, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. We had two women’s A quads competing, which finished fourth and sixth, and then the two crews combined for the A 8+. We finished third which was a great way to finish things off.”
Her standout memories, however, were as much about the people around her as the medals.
“Winning the single and then the double with Bekki were obviously big highlights for me, but I think I’ll probably remember all the support we got from our club. It was brilliant having so many teammates there cheering each other on.”
Competitive rowing, with a different atmosphere
Masters racing takes place over 1,000 metres rather than the traditional 2,000-metre distance used at senior level, but Alana was quick to point out that shorter does not necessarily mean easier.
“I’d say just give it a go! It’s a great way to get back into racing, meet people and make new friends. Masters racing is different to junior and senior rowing in that the race distance is 1k rather than 2k. You might think that makes it easier, but racing 1k is just as difficult!”
She also highlighted the balance between competition and the social side of the event.
“There’s still plenty of competitiveness when you’re racing, but there’s also a really strong social side to it. This week was a perfect example of that – everyone was there to race hard, but also to enjoy themselves and support each other.”
Irish wins across the regatta
Belfast were far from the only Irish club celebrating in Bled.
St Michael’s Rowing Club also enjoyed a hugely successful week. Asia secured a win in the Women’s C single sculls before combining with Paula to win the Women’s C double sculls. St Michael’s subsequently described the performances as a fantastic showing from the pair in Bled.
Commercial Rowing Club also recorded multiple race victories. Commercial won a Men’s G single sculls final in 3:58.48, while another Commercial crew won a Men’s G double sculls final in 3:41.31. Commercial were also among the Irish clubs recording success during Sunday’s mixed programme.
Muckross Rowing Club added another Irish victory in the Men’s C coxed four. Paul Griffin, John Buckley, Brendan O’Neill and Paul Kennedy, coxed by Philomena Burrows of Marlow Rowing Club, took first place after months of preparation for the event.
Across the five days, Irish rowers also appeared in a wide range of club and composite crews, reflecting the flexibility and international community that are hallmarks of Masters rowing.
A sport for life
Masters rowing is open to athletes from the year in which they turn 27, and the World Masters programme brings together rowers across a remarkable span of ages.
For some, it is a continuation of a lifelong competitive career. For others, it provides a route back into the sport after time away, while many simply value having a goal to train towards and a community to share it with.
That is something Alana believes clubs can play a major role in supporting.
“I think BRC is really good at creating a supportive team atmosphere. We were lucky enough to have multiple crews competing at Bled, so we had plenty of boats to train alongside in the build-up to the competition, which definitely helped get us race ready.”
Asked what could help Masters and lifelong rowing continue to grow in Ireland, her answer was simple.
“I think the biggest thing is keeping it fun and making people feel welcome. This week was such a good example of that. The weather was pretty horrendous at times, but the whole BRC team continued to support each other and enjoy the experience. If we can create more of that atmosphere, I think Masters rowing will continue to grow.”
The World Masters Regatta demonstrates that competitive rowing does not need to have an end point. Whether someone is returning after years away, moving from recreational rowing towards competition, or simply looking for another challenge with clubmates, Masters rowing offers another way to stay connected to the sport.
The performances in Bled were impressive, but perhaps equally important was the picture they painted of rowing as a sport that can continue through every stage of life.
Selected Irish results
Belfast Rowing Club
- Women’s A 1x – Alana O’Donovan – 1st
- Women’s A 2x – Alana O’Donovan / Bekki – 1st
- Women’s A 8+ – Bekki / Alana / Laura / Eyrin / Angie / Fiona / Niamh / Jordan – 3rd
- Women’s A 4x – Bekki / Laura / Fiona / Alana – 4th
- Women’s A 4x – Niamh / Eyrin / Angie / Jordan – 6th
St Michael’s Rowing Club
- Women’s C 1x – Asia – 1st
- Women’s C 2x – Asia / Paula – 1st
Commercial Rowing Club
- Men’s G 1x – Commercial – 1st in Final 1
- Men’s G 2x – Commercial – 1st in Final 9
- Mixed events – further Commercial success during Sunday’s programme
Muckross Rowing Club
- Men’s C 4+ – Paul Griffin / John Buckley / Brendan O’Neill / Paul Kennedy, cox Philomena Burrows (Muckross RC) – 1st
Full official event results are available through RegattaCentral.
