Offaly Rowing Club sweep the boards at Sligo Regatta

Offaly Rowing club took home a whopping 19 gold medals from the Sligo Sprint Regatta held last Saturday.

It was a day to remember for the club as they travelled in large numbers up the N4 in what proved to be a very successful and worthwhile trip. While the sun shone for most of the day, the tricky west of Ireland River did show its teeth with choppy conditions throughout the day.

Offaly Rowing club, based on the canal in Cappincur, might be one of the smaller clubs competing at regattas throughout the Country, but that Offaly steel was evident last Saturday.

Competing in events from under 14, right the way through to the masters, there was success in a number of different grades and disciplines.

J14 rower Finn Lowry continued on the promise he showed last year by taking the honours in the J14 singles event while he was also part of a J15 double with Kilbeggan native Ben O’Grady as the lads held off stiff competition to take the spoils.

There was more success to come at J15 level as the Offaly quad team of Lowry, O’Grady, Caden Coleman and David Mooney were impressive crossing the line in first place coxed expertly by Martha O’Grady.

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It was a clean sweep at the J15 grade with Coleman and Mooney also teaming up in a double to win their race while Coleman also crossed the finish line first in the J15 singles race.

Not to be outdone by the lads, there was also great success for the girls. Blaithin Clarke rowed to victory in her J18 singles race, while Ealga McAuliffe also took home gold in her J18 single event.

The clean sweep of the Women’s J18 division continued with Tess Flynn and Nicole Duke teaming up brilliantly in the double division to take the win.

All four girls came together for the Women’s J18 quad race and did the business to add to the clubs medal haul.

Offaly were not far away from bringing home more silverware. Masters Baithen Mooney and John Ward put in a strong showing while Daniel Lambe, John McDonald, John Twomey, Cian Craven, Paul O’Beirne, Oran Sampson and Martha O’Grady all featured prominently in their various J18 races.

Another notable achievement for the club came a few weeks back at the Muckross Head of the River with Masters Rower Adele O’Dwyer taking gold in the Masters single division. Held at the National Rowing centre, the win was a huge result, giving it took place on the same course where the National Championships will be held in July.

A huge well done to all competitors along the coaching trio of John Ward, Baithen Mooney and Adele O’Dwyer, who can take huge satisfaction from the results of the last few weeks.

The club are in the process of organising a Summer Camp for beginner rowers in the Summer. More details to follow in the coming weeks. It will be a great chance for junior rowers to come along and get a taste for the sport.

Thinking about giving Rowing a go? Get in touch with us through our contact us section on our website www.offalyrowingclub.ie or send us a DM on Instagram.