Spirits high for challenge race

ROWING / News: Spirits were high last night as Ciarán Lewis and Gearóid Towey prepared to test their boat on the ocean in the dark in preparation for the Atlantic Challenge Rowing Race which begins on Sunday (10.30am) from La Gomera in the Canary Islands.

"We're just finishing up the last pieces of preparation," said Lewis. "We're going out now to test out the lights."

Both men were thrilled with the input of sailors Paddy Barry and Gearóid Ó Riain.

"Their help was invaluable, excellent," said Lewis. "They have been so generous with their time."

The other boat with an Irish involvement, crewed by Paul Gleeson from Limerick and his Canadian partner, Victoria "Tori" Holmes, has been moored beside Lewis and Towey's craft for the last few days. They are undertaking the 1,900-mile trek to Antigua in the West Indies for the charity Concern.

Both crews have been wishing each other well. Gleeson and the very slight Holmes are not rowers, but they have won the respect of their experienced companions. "They're a ballsy, gutsy pair," says Lewis.

Towey is enjoying the good atmosphere and being busy in preparing the boat. "We'll be finished that in time to spend Saturday chilling out. But I can't wait to get out on the sea," the Corkman says. A good start really will be half the battle. "The first week or 10 days is definitely crucial. That is when boats come a cropper," he says.

The Irish Cancer Society and the Merchant's Quay Project could benefit by as much as €250,000 from Lewis and Towey's row, but even if they win the Irishmen will not be in the money - the prize is a barrel of rum and a trophy!

Towey's partner at the Athens Olympics, Sam Lynch, along with Neptune's Neil Casey, missed last weekend's national training camp because of minor illnesses.

The one on-the-water activity pencilled in for this weekend, the Athlone Head of the River was cancelled because there were not sufficient entries, but Offaly Rowing club will celebrate 21 years in existence over the next few days.