Enniskillen Royal Boat Club hosted an extremely successful Erne Eights Head of the River on Saturday, attracting a record 94 crews from across Ireland.
ERBC enjoyed a remarkable day on home water, with victories for the Girls’ and Boys’ First and Second Eights, the Men’s Junior 16 Eight, and the Women’s Junior 14 and 15 Octos.
In the morning race, the Women’s First Eight of Claire Walsh, Isabella Wright, Naomi Robinson, Clodagh Donaghy, Zara Welsh, Méabh Murphy, Rhea Thompson, Hannah Thompson, with Jessica Thompson (cox), produced a superb performance to defeat St Michael’s by 58.8 seconds, lifting the Sir Anthony Hart Trophy for the 3rd year in a row.
They finished 6th overall, just 31.5 seconds behind Dublin University Ladies Boat Club, who became the first women’s crew to complete the course in under 20 minutes.
Men’s First Eight – Race 2
In the afternoon, the Men’s First Eight of Evan Donaghy, Ryan Topping, Luke Bailey, Austin Cassidy, Christian Timoney, Andrew Cuthbertson, Cillian Donaghy, Lorcan Sreenivasan, with Abbey Wilson (cox), claimed victory over St Michael’s Rowing Club in a time of 18:32.9, winning by 28.3 seconds.
They also finished 6th overall, less than a minute behind the course‑record‑breaking winning crew from University College Dublin Boat Club who beat the course record by an incredible 44 secs.
The Men’s Junior 16 Eight won the Tom Noble Trophy, with Evan Clarke, Joshua Allen, Oliver Collins, Oliver Jennings, Caelan Moore, Joel Crean, Reece Brady, James McAleer, and Ollie Powell (cox) recording an excellent time of 19:38.8, ahead of St Joseph’s and Bann Rowing Club.
The Women’s Junior 14 Octo of Maya Kettyle, Heidi Bogle, Sophia Latimer, Myleene Leonard, Muireann Cassidy, Zarka Zupkova, Emilia Iwanicka, Ellie McCauley, and Hollie Sharpe (cox) also claimed a fine win.
In the Women’s Junior 15 Octo, Kaitlyn Read, Cat Starrett, Beth Bradley, Maeve Rolston McAuliffe, Sophie Madill, Holly McCabe, Martha McCreesh, Casey Lee Leonard, with Nicole Graham (cox), took the honours in a time of 22:53.2, defeating crews from Methody, St Michael’s, and Coláiste Iognáid.
Further success followed with wins for the Women’s Junior 18B Eight and Men’s Junior 18B Eight.
The WJ18B Eight of Grace Collins, Abbie McCarthy Magwood, Tori Davis, Sienna Howe, Darcy Balfour, Brooke Davis, Zara Lindsay, Amy Williamson, with Freya McNeary (cox), lifted the winning pennant.
In the MJ18B Eight, Shane O’Donnell, Harley Sheppard, Matthew Montgomery, Andries Ferreira, William Graham, Cameron Bell, Lewis Coalter, Harry Welsh, with Jessica Thompson (cox), won their category ahead of Carlow Rowing Club.
ERBC would like to thank all the coaches, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make the Erne Eights Head of the River such a successful event.
