ERBC had a fantastic day on Saturday at the Erne Eights Head of the River. 79 crews completed the race on a day of two very different halves with the weather much kinder to the Men’s who raced in the afternoon. 30 crews competed in Race 1 including 4 crews from ERBC along with Annabelle Kingston and Evie McGarry who competed in a composite crew. ERBC’s girls won all of the 4 categories that they entered with the 1st Eight taking 3rd place overall in Race 1. The crew was Zara Welsh, Isabella Wright, Acorn Cassidy, Naomi Robinson, Kate Huddlestone, Ruby Hamill, Rhea Cartin McCloskey, Eva Johnston and Cox Jessica Thompson. The girls overcame the crews from Castleconnell who won the event last year along with Commercial, St Michaels who won the Irish Championships in July, and Methody to win the Tony Hart Memorial Trophy.
DULBC (Trinity Ladies) Senior Eights were the overall winners of the race in a time of 22.25.4 winning the Kidd Cup.
2nd were a composite crew from Neptune RC, Old Collegians BC and UCDBC which included former ERBC rower Miriam Kelly who covered the 6km course in a time of 22.32.3.
ERBC’s Junior 16 crew Errie Powell, Sienna Howe, Mya Morris, Hannah Armstrong, Zara Lindsay, Amy Lipscomb, Meabh Murphy, Milena Remedios and cox Abbey Wilson beat the girls from St Michael’s RC, Commercial RC and Neptune RC in a time of 25.00.7. They were presented with the Kemp Cup at prize giving on Saturday afternoon.
The Junior 15 Octo, Tori Davis, Emily Black, Darcy Balfour, Abbie McCarthy Magwood, Grace Collins, Aoibhin Campbell. Amy Williamson, Brooke Davis and Cox Katelyn Fee took the win over the girls from ColaisteIognaid in 26.49.9
The Junior 14 Octo A Eva Fowler, Aimee Turner, Clodagh Donaghy, Leah Topping, Freya McNeary, Maeve Rolston, Penny Huddlestone, Flavia Remedios and Cox Rachel Cathcart had a great race, some of the girls were racing for the very first time in challenging conditions, they beat the girls from Methody in a time of 28.22.3
Race 2 had 49 crews competing with the most competitive Men’s Senior Eights category in the history of Erne Head, which started back in 1957 with 9 crews battling it out to win the Rowing Cup. The fastest Men’s Crew were Commercial Senior Eights in a time of 19.11.2
2nd were University of Galway BC in 19.23.2
3rd University College Dublin Boat Club A in 19.25.7
ERBC’S 1st Eights took 11th place behind their rivals St Joseph’s Galway (The Bish) who won the Devenish Cup this year by almost 4 secs over Evan Donaghy, Ryan Topping, Oliver Khew, Oran Harty, Owen Kelly, Austin Cassidy, George Kernaghan, Luke Bailey and Cox Katelyn Fee.
The J16 boys Christian Timoney, Eoghan Campbell, Harry Coalter, Andrew Cuthbertson, Charlie Lynn, Lorcan Sreenivasan, Harley Sheppard, Jake Sembhi and cox Errie Carty were disappointed to take 2nd place to Neptune RC in 21.51.4 who lifted the Tom Noble Memorial Trophy.
The Junior 15 Octo of Cillian Donaghy, Olie Powell, Joshua Ihnat, Matthew Montgomery, Oliver McNeary, Ryan Thomas, Shane O’Donnell, Jacob Woods and cox Cameron Bell had a very emphatic win over the boys from Methody and Colaiste Iognaid 23.06.1
The Junior 14 A crew Caelan Moore, Joel Crean, Oliver Jennings, James McAleer, Evan Clarke, Adam Bullock, Reece Brady, Harry Welsh and Jessica Thompson overcame the B crew and completed the 6 Km in 26.03.3
All the trophies, tankards and medals were presented by Ms Armstrong, ERBC President, David Storrs and John McDonagh, CEO Waterways Ireland. Trinity BC won top Senior club and ERBC lifted the Waterways Ireland crystal trophy for the top junior club at Eights Head.
ERBC is very grateful to all the businesses who sponsored the event.
Many thanks to everyone who helped Mr Holland and the team at ERBC to run a very successful and safe event, your help is very much appreciated by everyone at the Boatclub. Thanks also to Pat Comiskey for helping to clear the unexpected snow at the Boathouse on Friday morning.
Next on the racing calendar is London Schools Head on 20th March when 7 eights will make the trip to compete against the top crews in UK
