Regattas lose lustre due to lack of senior racers

Athlone Regatta, traditionally a well-run event with plenty of atmosphere, has a full day of action on Saturday – but precious few senior rowers.

Cork Regatta shimmers on the horizon next weekend (June 20th and 21st), carrying the promise of international rowers throwing the gauntlet down to the best of the domestic crews, but one wonders about the shape of a domestic season which sees a three-week break with no multi-lane racing, followed by two multi-lane regattas in a row.

The gap-toothed nature of the 2015 season is particularly noticeable because the giant Skibbereen regatta was ruled out by bad weather, twice.

Athlone has also suffered from the general paucity of adult rowers. Coaches tell of burn off beginning as early as 15 and 16.

Invitation race

The Athlone organisers have shown some cleverness by inventing an eights event. There will be an invitation race with four crews: Shandon (club two), St Michael’s (junior), Cork (intermediate) and a masters composite crew.

The women’s junior 18 eights could provide a competitive final, with Bann, Portora and St Michael’s entered, while Patrick Munnelly, Damien Kelly and Micheál Bailey are strong entries in the senior single sculls.

Galway regatta on Sunday is celebrating its 131st anniversary. Racing on the three-lane course is set to run from 9am to 6pm with the entry dominated by underage crews.

The entry for Cork Regatta promises star attractions across the range of disciplines. In the single sculls, top international Paul O’Donovan resumes rivalry with John Keohane, with Eric Rowan – a winner at London Metropolitan – in with a real chance.

Fabulously competitive

Trinity and NUIG/Gráinne Mhaol go head to head in the Division One eights, with Skibbereen seniors and UCD’s intermediates in with a chance of besting both.

The men’s fours should also be fabulously competitive, and UCD/Old Collegians quadruple, beaten by Commercial at Dublin Metropolitan have entered a new line-up, with Turlough Hughes coming in for Eimantas Grigalius.

And the women’s side also offers an international angle: Helen Hannigan and Lisa Dilleen, the new Ireland women’s double, are entered.

A team of 20 rowers are circumnavigating Ireland in a 15-foot, self-built skiff in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. The trip of almost 1,000 nautical miles will be covered by two-person crews, with 50 designated stops along the way. On Thursday a crew was rowing up the coast of Co Down. The team is dependent on local support and some rowers can join the effort.