14 crews from ERBC made up of rowers from years 9 and 10 competed at the Head of the Garavogue in Sligo last Saturday and they won every category that they entered which was a fantastic achievement for these young rowers. This was the first time that these crews took part in this event which took place over a 3500m course on the Garavogue River.
In Race 1 there were wins for the boys J15 4X+ crew of Joshua Ihnat, Cillian Donaghy, Harley Sheppard, Bruno Maguire Favro and cox Cameron Bell in a great time of 11.47.0, taking the win by over a minute and a half over the crew from Loughros RC.
In the MJ14 8X+ category ERBC entered 2 crews and it was the B crew of Caelen Moore, Oliver McNeary (Flavia Remedios) Jacob Woods, Dara McMurray Taylor, Cameron Bell, Adam Bullock, Edward Dawa, Jackson Elliott and cox Abbey Wilson who came out the winners. The other crew of Pranay Pacha, Archie Hamill, Matthew Montgomery, Paddy Huang, James McAleer, Harry Welsh, Joel Crean, Lewis Coalter and Summer Armstrong had a great row and would have gained invaluable experience to take with them for the rest of the season.
The MJ14 4x+ crew of Shane O’Donnell, Jack Donnelly, Ollie Carty, Oliver McNeary and Cox Meabh Murphy had a great win over the crew from Carrick RC in a time of 13.29.5
Jessica Kingston and Emily Black won the WJ15 2X category over the Galway girls in a time of 14.13.7
Isabella Wright and Natalie Turner took the WJ14 2X title over the other 2 ERBC crews of Caitlin Kelly/Abbie McCarthy Magwood and twins Brooke and Tori Davis in a time of 13.23.3
Zara Welsh won the WJ single scull title in fine style in a time of 14.09.2
In Race 2 in the afternoon ERBC’s crews continued their winning streak with another win for Harley Sheppard and Bruno Maguire Favro, this time in the MJ15 2X category which they won over the crews from Carrick RC and 2 crews from St Joseph’s, Galway by just over one minute in a time of 14.00.0.
Joshua Ihnat and Cillian Donaghy also had a second win in the MJ14 2X in a time of 14.24.4 over the other ERBC crew Shane O’Donnell and Jack Donnelly who have just started rowing this year following in their older siblings footsteps.
The final win for the day came from the WJ14 8X+ of Darcy Balfour, Emily Black, Brooke Davis, Tori Davis, Caitlin Kelly, Abbie McCarthy Magwood, Natalie Turner, Isabella Wright and Cox Abbey Wilson in a time of 13.18.1.
During the presentation of pennants the official from Sligo RC said Enniskillen Royal Boat Club came to Sligo and conquered and awarded ERBC with a plaque for being the most decorated club at the event.
Many thanks to the coaches and parents who travelled with the rowers to Sligo to support and assist them getting on and off the water. Thanks to Tim Richmond for taking the boats down.
