Thanks to ABP Foods

Huge thanks to ABP Foods Ferrybank for their support of the club. Their recent donation enabled us to purchase some brand new safety gear (4 lifejackets and 4 throw-bags) for the club. With a really large intake of new members this year this new equipment is vital for ensuring everyone’s safety and helping the club grow. Great to see a local business supporting local clubs. So huge thanks again to ABP from all at WBC for their help.

Pictured here with some of the new safety gear are our Women’s Junior 15 Quad crew in the clubs new safety launch.

Our WJ15 4x crew Aine, Jessica, Katie and Edie show off our new safety gear.



J12 and J13 New Members 2023

As regatta season has just finished for our younger crews we’re starting the intake for new 12 and 13 year old members for 2023/2024.

If you have a 12/13 year old who’s interested in trying out an exciting and challenging sport we’ll be welcoming potential new members down over the month of July to try it out for free. Any potential participants must be competent swimmers.

Please contact us at enquiries@waterfordboatclub.ie and include the following information:

  • Child’s Name
  • Child’s Date of Birth
  • Confirmation that they are a competent swimmer
  • Parent/Guardian’s e-mail address
  • Parent/Guardian’s phone number

We’ll forward on times of the sessions when we’ll give potential new members a quick overview and try out in the boats. Looking forward to hearing from you.

If after a couple of trial sessions you’ve decided to join as a member then you can download and fill in the Membership Application form from the link below. Please return this to one of the coaches or alternatively you can scan the completed form and return it to us at enquiries@waterfordboatclub.ie

WBC Membership Form 23/24


Masters Rowing

A rejuvenation of Masters Rowing has taken place in the club partially inspired by association with Waterford Sports Partnership. Newly formed Men’s Masters crews participated at the recreational regatta in Graiguenamanagh Rowing Club and Carlow Regatta. There is now also a Women’s Masters group headed up by Lisa O’Callaghan.



Henley [Oxfordshire, UK]

A Waterford BC /Castleconnell/ Grainne Mhaol crew raced the Masters B coxed four at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta, winning the final over Powerhouse Rowing Club of Australia, securing WBCs first ever Henley medal, this was the fastest coxed four of the weekend.

 

Henley Masters B coxed four winners; WBC’S Alan Penkert and his composite crew



International Regatta: [Strathclyde, Scotland]

Waterford Boat Club had good reason to celebrate with two club members selected to participate at the Home International Regatta in Strathclyde park Scotland on the 27th July last bringing home silver.

Both oarsmen trained hard all year round to get the chance to compete at such a high level.  O’ Brien a leaving cert student from Waterpark College & Dolphin a 1st year student in UCD came together to race the Men’s Lightweight Pair.  Both athletes endured a long winter of both gym & on the water sessions, culminating in the opportunity to represent both club and country. Coach Eoin Whelan & Club Captain Ger McCarthy are extremely proud to see such dedicated young athletes come through Waterford Boat Club.

Notably, Waterford Boat Club’s Lisa O’ Callaghan was also the overall Team Manager for Ireland at this event in Strathclyde.



The National Championships [Cork]

A main focus of the season and held in The National Rowing Centre in Cork Sean O’Brien [stroke] & Frankie Dolphin [bow] qualified in a time trial to represent Ireland at the home international regatta held in Strathclyde.

Abby Grogan had a very hard-fought race in the Junior 15 Sculls Final, sticking to her race plan and getting over the line to take 1st place.



Carlow Regatta

Taking place on the June Bank Holiday weekend, Sundays races were cancelled at lunch time due to high winds, only the 2nd time in the history of the regatta cancellation was necessary! Regardless there were wins for Lauren Hayes in Women’s J18 1x and Men’s Junior’s 15 4x+; Marianna Mc Gagh (Cox), Chulainn O’Mahoney (Stroke), James Vaughan, Rory Wymberry and Jack Rogan



I Live, Breath and Live for Rowing

I Live, Breath and Live for Rowing

I live, breath, and live for rowing. I’m always thinking of the next regatta or head of the river.
As I’m writing this terrible promotion for the club I am thinking of the Barrow Challenge next weekend. Thinking of rates, pressures and if I will be able to complete it.

Rowing is a sport that just takes up your life. – Some wise Rowing Expert

Training is almost every day, weekdays and the weekends. But I look forward to each session. Almost everyone in the club feels the same way I do. The club is a friendly environment for people with a passion for the sport, no matter the skill.

Look, if you are saying things like “I’m only doing this for fitness.” You’re in the wrong sport. Go get yourself a gym membership!

In our small rowing community we all have to do our part. We all have to help, like bringing up the launch. Please don’t be going home before the damn launch is up.

Regattas aren’t just about the competition, It’s a day out. Think of it like going to the horses, it’s really social but stressful at times.

You may find that rowing sounds like a hard sport and you want to try but not sure about the commitment, just head down to us and give it a try, who knows… you might end up loving it.

Written by 14 year old Waterford Boat Club Rower, 2017.



My First Year at Rowing

My First Year at Rowing

My first year at rowing was a great year I won two medals. When I first started rowing it was at 8 o’clock on Sunday mornings. When I started rowing I was 12. I also started in the winter which was extremely cold and would wear fluffy socks, two under-armours, a fleece, a coat and two leggings. So we would go out on the river and I was not able to row at all. In fairness to me I was a mess. I thought it would have been easy for me but it took me about a month to even get one stroke. Everyone learns at different paces. My brother did rowing before I started and I went around to all the events that went on and I thought ‘how hard can it be’. Anyway since he did rowing he was always telling me how awful I was when I started and that he learned it a lot quicker. Well I don’t know for sure how fast he learnt it because to be honest I did not know what rowing was.

As I got better at rowing we formed a quad that was our age group. It was an all girl j14 quad. Training at one point was five days a week. On Wednesdays there was circuit training in Waterpark R.F.C in the club house, that was all through the winter.

My first race was in Carlow Regatta because I had missed Castleconnel regatta. My very first race was in a quad and we came first against New Ross so I was very happy. That was my first medal and in my single race I came second ( there was only 2 in the race! ).

Then there was the Cork Regatta this regatta was on my birthday and my parents surprised me with cake that all the club helped eat. My single race didn’t go very well but we came second out of 5 in the quad and we met the O’Donovan brothers and got photos with them. It was great to be rowing on the same water as Olympians!

Then there was Fermoy Regatta , up at 5 am to hit the road . In our quad race the 2 other clubs we were against crashed into the banks and we kept rowing and we won and got my second medal !

Finally it was Irish championships in July and we were allowed to compete however the first day was cancelled due to high winds and we went home then went up the next morning hoping that it was on. It was on at lunch time and I competed , it was great. That was my first year at rowing and I love it!

Written by 13 year old Waterford Boat Club Rower.



International scullers on the river

International scullers on the river

One of our International scullers heading down the river for a good training session.