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.
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
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.
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.
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
May saw the club travel to Limerick and another strong win for the Men’s Junior 15 Coxed Quad, as well as Abby Grogan in Women’s Junior 15 and Lauren Heyes in Women’s Junior 18.
Watch the excitement of the J15 quad race below!
Chulainn O’Mahoney [stk], Sean Ryan, James Vaughan & Ciaran Curtin [bow]
Waterford Boat Club travelled to Dublin’s Commercial Regatta on Sunday 7th of April.
A two lane, 1200-metre course, this regatta makes for close exciting racing.
The Waterford club had a total of 17 entries ensuring a busy event for all WBC crews, coaches & parents, with races throughout the day from 8am through to 7pm.
A strong Men’s Junior 15 Coxed Quad were up against Cork club Blackrock in their final, and rowed to victory by 4 lengths. This was followed by a competent win by Men’s Junior 14 Coxed Quad against Galway club St Joseph’s.
Notable performances by Robbie Grogan in the Single Scull to negotiate 2 heats and a quarter final, only to concede in the semi-final. Chulainn O’Mahoney also raced to the line in his Single Scull final to lose out by a canvas.
Waterford Boat Club crews will next compete at the Lee regatta on the 11th of May in Cork.
The rowing regatta season is in full swing with Waterford Boat Club representatives travelling to the Lee (Cork), Castleconnell (Limerick) and Carlow regattas in recent weeks.
The most recent event took place in Carlow on the 2nd and 3rd of June. Waterford were well represented with over 19 crews racing over the 2 days. Saturday’s crews raced in a Club 2 races which are an open category. J14, J15 & J16 crews held their own over the 1100-meter technical course, securing 2 finals in which they competed against older more experienced crew’s. Having beaten Tralee in the semi-final the men’s J15 4x+coxed quad raced Carlow J18s matching them throughout the race to finish just 1 length behind. A great performance achieved by sticking to the race plan. Enniskillen grammar school got the better of our WJ15 x+ coxed quad crew over the 1100-meter course. However, Sunday was a triumphant day for WBC as they picked up 8 wins racing strong finals.
All roads now lead to the National Rowing Centre in Cork on the 23rd of June to compete on a 2k, 6 laned, bouyed course.
Pictured L-R: Dermot Griffin (Boat Club President & Coach), Abby Grogan, Robbie Grogan, Kate Skinner, Cormac Walsh, Olivia Heyes, Luke Shaw, Sinead McHugh, Chulainn O’Mahoney and Ger McCarthy (Club Captain & Coach)
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 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.