Tipperary rowers were flying it at Munster Indoor Championships
Sometimes sport can be dull and uninspiring, kind of like watching paint dry.
The complete opposite was the case at the Sports Arena UL last Saturday. The management of the Moneypoint Power Station would have been envious of the wattage being generated by hundreds of rowers and Crossfit enthusiasts on their ergometers.
Cheered on by enthusiastic spectators, the athletes delivered gut- bursting performances in thrilling contests, with the lead changing hands stroke by stroke.
In the relay races Clonmel really shone, winning the Senior Mixed 4 by a country mile.
An indoor relay rowing team use the one machine, changing the rower every 300 metres as quickly as possible. This team was led by club captain Alan Prendergast with Brendan Wall, Clara Hogan and Hannah McMahon stopping the clock in a phenomenal 5’42”.
Clara had earlier set two new national records in the 500m and the 1,000m. As long as Clara is around everybody else can just stay at home.
Rory Keely, Brian Hurley, Benjamin Wall, Kieran Hickey from Clonmel Rowing Club at the Munster Indoor Rowing Championships in UL on Saturday last
In an electric atmosphere the crew of Benjamin Wall, Brian Hurley, Kieran Hickey and Rory Keely exchanged the lead back and forth with Castleconnell in what was the most exciting race of the day.
At the business end of the race Clonmel edged out their opponents by a mere three seconds.
Rory Keely took home another medal in the men’s J16 2,000m, finishing third.
Not to be outdone by the boys,the Clonmel women’s TY 3 team also brought home the bacon when Team Fogarty; Kate, Brid and Fiona teamed up with Anna Kiely.
Coach Brendan Wall can take a bow for the work he has put into these teams.
Kate Fogarty was laden down with medals, winning the J13 and coming third in a dead heat with another Clonmel rower Millie Crean in the 500m.
In the Meehan house, Laura, now rowing for UL, has bragging rights after she finished second in a high- class field. Kate Meehan just missed out on the podium, coming in fourth in J16.
The fine performances of the Clonmel juniors, five of whom secured PB times, must also be acknowledged and Gerald Nugent came second in the lightweight men’s Under 23.
MAIN GUARD ERGO EXTRAVAGANZA BECKONS
Next stop is Muckross Head of River (HOR), which takes place at Inniscarra on Saturday. And don’t forget to come down to the Main Guard on Saturday, December 16 for the Ergo Extravaganza.