Portora Boat Club on the podium at the Irish Schools Regatta in Limerick.
LAST WEEEKEND the Portora Boat Club travelled to Limerick to take part in a two day event which also incorporated the Irish Schools Regatta. Limerick Regatta taking pace over 1500m got off to a wet and windy start with racing soon falling well behind schedule. The rowers however were not deterred and put in many fine performances on the water in tough headwind conditions.
The boy’s J18 8 off the back of a successful head racing season were keen to translate this speed into shorter course racing. Blasting off to a quick start the crew stretched out a lead over St Joseph’s, Galway and St Michael’s, Limerick and crossed the finish line some two lengths clear. The boys J18 4 of James Foster, Ryan Ballantine, Sam Armstrong and Aaron Johnston, coxed by Chloe McClean put in perhaps the row of the day looking impressive as they crossed the line two lengths up on a fancied Athlunkard crews who had earlier won the J18 2.
At J16 level many of last year’s championship winning crew have moved up to J18 level but the newly formed J16 8 put in a gutsy race to win by one second over Coláiste Iognáid, Galway, and continue Portora’ s two year winning streak in this event.
The girls J18 8 continued their form this season by winning over St Michael’s Limerick in gusty difficult conditions. Splitting down into two coxless 4s Elizabeth Clarke, Emma Glover, Lydia Mulligan and Mia Jayne Elliott powered home in front of St Michael’s and Galway Rowing Club. Elizabeth and Emma then completed a clean sweep of the J18 sweep oared categories by winning the J18 2. J15 level saw a new crew formed to race in the J15 8 and they had an excellent row to claim victory against St Michael’s, Limerick by several lengths.
Portora finished the day as the most successful club achieving more wins than any of the other clubs at the regatta.
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