Commercial Regatta 2023 Preview

This week sees Waterford Boat Club’s first participation in a regatta in 2023 which will be held in Islandbridge in Dublin on Sunday 2nd April. The regatta will run from 08:00 until 18:30.

More detail on the Commercial Regatta can be found here on the Rowing Ireland website

Waterford Boat Club will have 15 boats running across the Junior 14, 15, 16 and 18’s categories. The length of all races will be 1200 metres (except for J14 competitions which will be 1000m in length).

A map of the regatta course can be found here.

The timetable for each event can be found here with Waterford’s first race scheduled for 09:57 and our last race at 17:51. As always crews must be at the trailer 90 minutes before their scheduled start time. All crews will launch from Commercial Rowing Club in Islandbridge.

We’ll post a summary of the Regatta including results, photos etc shortly after the event.

Best of luck to all of the crews involved.



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



Castleconnell Regatta [Limerick]

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]



Commercial Regatta April 2019

Commercial Regatta April 2019

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.

 



Carlow Regatta June 2018

Carlow Regatta June 2018

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.

  • MJ 15 x4 Robbie Grogan, Cormac Walsh, Luke Shaw Chulainn O’Mahoney, Abby Grogan (Cox).
  • MJ15 x1 Robbie Grogan
  • MJ14 x1 Chulainn O’Mahoney
  • Wj16 2x Lauren Heyes & Leila McGagh
  • W15 x2 Sinead McHugh
  • WJ15 x2 Abby Grogan & Kate Skinner
  • WJ5 x2 Sinead McHugh & Olivia Heyes
  • WJ14 x1 Abby Grogan

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 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.