ENNISKILLEN RBC Junior Rowers finished the season in style with sixteen wins at the Irish Junior Championships 1K Challenge which helped them attain the overall Championship title.
The 1k Challenge is held at the purpose-built rowing course at Lough Rynn and is the final racing event for the junior rowers J15 and under. The weather was better than predicted with a light tailwind and no rain so good racing conditions. With strong entries from all over Ireland, most races had six crews in the line-up, which made all the finals very competitive.
In the first races of the morning the J15 girls’ quad had a good win Eva Fowler, Clodagh Donaghy, Kathlyn Read, Penny Huddlestone and cox Milena Remedios holding off St Michaels and Muckross.
Shortly afterwards the boys J14 octo of Josh Allen, Eli Irvine, George Elliott, Oliver Collins, Albie Cluff, Louis McIvor, Levi Thompson, Finlay Bell, and cox Rachel Cathcart beating Castleconnel and old rivals St Josephs. The J14 quad of Nicole Graham, Kaitlyn Read, Clodagh Donaghy, Maeve Ralston-McAuliffe, cox Leah Topping had a strong win over Castleconnel.
Next up were the boys’ sculls with both Eli Irvine and Josh Allen winning their respective finals. In one of the big races of the afternoon. The boys J15 octo of Evan Clarke, Josh Allen, Oliver Collins, Joel Crean, James McAleer, Caelan Moore, Reece Brady, Harry Welsh, and cox Rachel Cathcart won a close race just edging out St Josephs and Shandon.
In the last race of the day there was success in the new mixed octo category where both the A crew of Josh Allen, George Elliott, Maeve Ralston-McAuliffe, Clodagh Donaghy, Kaitlyn Read, Oliwia Muras, Oliver Collins, Levi Thompson, cox Freya McNeary and the B crew Nicole Graham, Beth Bradley, Eli Irvine, Albie Cluff, Louis McIvor, Finlay Bell, Holly Shaw, Michaela Ihnat and cox Leah Topping registered good wins.
Sunday conditions were still good, and the day got off to a solid start with the girls J4 oct crew of Nicole Graham, Maeve Ralston-McAuliffe, Clodagh Donaghy, Kaitlyn Read, Oliwia Muras, Hannah Kearney, Beth Bradley, Michaela Ihnat and cox Leah Topping recording a convincing win over Muckross.
Shortly afterwards the boys J15 squad of Evan Clarke, Oliver Jennings, Joel Crean, James McAleer and cox Rachel Cathcart claimed a first over St Michaels and Clonmel. The J14 quad B crew Eli Irvine, Louis McIvor, Finlay Bell, Albie Cluff, cox Leah Topping had a good win over the Castleconnel A crew and Shannon.
Clodagh Donaghy and Eva Fowler recorded a strong win in the J15 double event with clear water from Cork and Shandon. The boys 15 eight completed the double having won the octo on Saturday, with Edward Dawa replacing Josh Allen. The same crew stormed into an early lead and crossed the line two clear boat lengths over nearest competitors Col Iognaid and Shannon.
In the final of the J14 double event, Josh Allen and George Elliott held off a strong challenge from St Michels to claim their win.
The young J13 quad of Mylene Leonard, Maya Kettyle, Sophia Latimer, Heidi Bogle, cox Milena Remedios has an impressive win over Bann and Col Iognaid, and then in the final race of the day the mixed octo of Evan Clarke, Joel Crean, Eva Fowler, Freya McNeary, Aimee Turner, Penny Huddlestone, Oliver Jennings, James McAleer, and cox Milena again won a tight race just pipping St Michael’s.
Enniskillen were also awarded the Victor Ludorum for the most points gained over the two-day event making them the top junior club in Ireland. There were also seven second place finishes which was a credit to the other Enniskillen rowers who just missed out on a first place finish in their finals. That completes the season for the Junior Rowers. Senior Rowers continue to prepare for the Irish Championships at the Irish Rowing Centre in Inniscarra, Cork in two weeks time.