Sligo rowers put on a show at Athlone Regatta, winning medals in nine categories
Sligo rowers picked up medals in nine categories at the recent Athlone regatta.
Athlone regatta took place on June 18 in Coosan Point Athlone. This has always been a big regatta in the Sligo rowing club calendar and marks the end of the junior cert and the start of the big run into the national championships.
The packed Sligo trailer arrived in Athlone Friday evening with two quads, three doubles and seven single sculls, and a good day’s racing was pending for Saturday.
Saturday morning saw mother nature pull out all the stops with flat calm water fit for a perfect day’s racing.
First out was Katie McEnroe and Caroline McGee in the women’s masters singles. McEnroe and McGee can regularly be seen training together on the Garavogue and happened to be drawn in the same heat in Athlone along with Offaly and St. Micheals scullers. McEnroe and McGee both took early leads across the 1000-meter course.
However, this time McEnroe edged out to a marginal lead and took the win. Soon after the Sligo pairing jumped into a double to race the master’s double. This experienced boat was packed full of power and technique and lived up to their name as they pulled away from the stakeboats in fashion and lead the field all the way to the line, bringing home the first medal of the day for Sligo.
One thing about the coaches in Sligo is they always lead by example. And this is no exception when it comes to racing. Coach Molua Donohoe has been quietly working away on the erg all winter doing a bit of training and decided it was time to put his training to the test at Athlone regatta.
Donohoe raced the masters single that morning and the banks were lined with Sligo’s juniors cheering on their coach as he stormed into the finish line.
Later that afternoon Tom Colsh joined Molua to race the mens masters double. Colsh, like Donohoe, had been quietly working away over the winter on the bike and used Athlone regatta as a good test of the lungs. The extraordinarily experienced double flew down the course only to be beaten by a Galway double.
Next was the turn of the junior boys. Connor Sheridan and Alwin Krzempiec represented Sligo in the mens junior 13 single.
Sheridan had only stepped into a single two weeks previous under the watchful eye of coach Rory Clarke and is beginning to follow in his older brother Thomas’s footsteps. Sheridan got away from the stakeboats cleanly, as practiced back home on the Garavogue, and but in a stellar performance showing great potential.
Krzempiec, who is only 12 years old, took an early lead and kept adding to it finishing with six lengths ahead of next finisher. This was to the delight of dad and coach Daniel.
To gain even more experience, Krzempiec also raced the mens junior 14 single and did himself very proud. Krzempiec and Sheridan also teamed up later in the day to race the mens junior 14 double. The boys put a good fight and earned experience that will benefit them in every race of their career.
Later that day a fleet of mens junior 16 scullers took to the water including Odhran Keating, Fiachra Dowd, Erwin Krzempiec, and Adam Foley.
All of these men have put in long winters in the gym and proven themselves on the erg, and this was shown in Athlone has all four men laid down solid races. Adam Foley took control of his race from the start, letting his presence be felt by his competitors.
He crossed the line in first place to the delight of his parents Linda and Ken. Soon after, these scullers teamed up to race the mens junior 16 doubles. Adam and Erwin, who have trained consistently together throughout the winter, showed promise from the very first stroke. As Krzempic picked up the rate from the strokes seat, Foley backed him up and across the line they came in first place.
Last up for the men was Finn Reid in the mens junior 18 single. After the tough race, Finn finished third losing second place by 0.5second. It was a race loaded with all “biggest guns”. Finn had to row against Irish Indoor Champion and rowers selected for National team. This puts his score in a very bright light.
Next up was the turn of Sligo’s junior women. Starting with the youngest, Claire Walsh, is a young athlete that has been recognized all over the country for her stellar performances at such a young age. Athlone regatta was no different for Walsh as she took the lead fast off the start and was able to bring the rate down and control the rest of the race the whole way to the line.
Walsh teamed up with Sheena Clarke to race the womens junior 15 double. This double have gone unbeaten in their category the whole season and Athlone regatta saw business as usual for the duo.
Clarke made the call to bring the rate down after a fast start and a strong rhythm was established to bring them into the line in first place.
Later that day, Clarke joined the junior 16 girls to race the junior 16 single. Emma Walsh, Emma Lineen, Rachel Clifford, Lauren Dolan, Alannah Glacken, and Sheena Clarke are all part of Sligo’s very strong womens junior 16 squad.
The single scull race was a chance for all girls to showcase their capabilities and what a showcase it was.
The banks of Coosan point came alive with cheering, as Sligo athletes raced down the course in all four of the womens junior 16 finals. Each athlete put in performances to be proud of.
The junior 16 squad then teamed up in doubles and a record number of 3 Sligo doubles raced down the course. Amongst those was Blaithin Melly and Cho Normanly racing their first regatta coached by Ailish Hackett.
This crew was well prepared for all the eventualities of a regatta and although they did not medal, they gained valuable experience and did themselves and their families very proud.
Last up for the junior 16’s was the coxed quad. Emma Walsh, Claire Walsh, Emma Lineen, and Lauren Dolan stormed down the course coxed by Sally McEnroe Rene. This crew has been noticed by other clubs throughout the season and Athlone regatta proved why.
This quad has practiced different start sequences throughout the last number of weeks, and they seem to have found the right one as they pulled away from the stakeboats at such speed, sending puddles straight down their lane.
The girls crossed the line in first place and congratulated their competitors on a good race.
Last up was the junior 18 women. Ella Clarke, Olivia McCann and Sarah Walsh raced the competitive junior 18 womens single event. All 3 scullers have trained consistently over the winter and earned their spot in that race.
Clarke and McCann put in performances they can only but be pleased with. The powerhouse that is Sarah Walsh was drawn in a fast heat with some familiar faces but this did not phase the young athlete as she put in a big sprint for the line to break free of her competitors to join her sisters Emma and Claire on the podium.
Next, the scullers came together to form doubles with Clarke and Walsh teaming up, and Sarah Anna Walsh joining McCann. Clarke and Walsh had a slow start but when Walsh made the call to go early and sprint for the line, Clarke responded, the rate went up to 44, and the boat took off.
However, the girls were agonizingly close to grabbing the win but unfortunately the line came too soon. Kayla McGuire and Aoibheann Taylor also competed in this event as their first regatta. Again, coach Ailish Hackett had her crews well prepared for the throes of a regatta and both girls performed exceptionally after their first winter in the sport.
Sligo’s four junior 18 women finally teamed up to race the coxless quad. Stroke Ella Clarke was backed up by Sarah Walsh, Olivia McCann, and Sarah Anna Walsh and found themselves battling for second place against CGS. Walsh made the call from the 3 seat to put the power on the legs and the boat pushed on to finish in a very respectable second place in a competitive field.
After a long days racing in Athlone, turns out it was worth parking the trailer beside the podium as Sligo picked up medals in nine categories throughout the day.
The fine tuning is well underway for the Sligo crews and anticipation is beginning to build for the final few weeks.
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