ROWING: COLERAINE ‘RAIN’ SUPREME AT PORTADOWN BOAT CLUB REGATTA

‘I have a bad feeling about this’ many said about the weather on Saturday morning.

Longer term forecast gave for a clear dry day – but it was a trap. Despite the mist and rain, however, nothing dampened the spirits of the 202 rowers descending on Portadown Boat Club on Saturday.

PBC welcomed 13 clubs from around the country for the annual Regatta, with rowers competing in six-boat classes and across all age categories.

From early the PBC coaches, launch drivers, marshals, stake boat crews and kitchen staff assembled to put the final checks in place and supporting crews to ‘get ready, set, row’. They knew what they had to do.

While action started on the water, it was hot in the kitchen with breakfast provided from 8am. The renowned Portadown Club catering crew put on a mammoth spread all day to feed the hungry rowers and visiting supporters and coaches, providing cover from the elements inside and out with a BBQ tent and refreshments in the club grounds.

The rain put neither the home, nor the hundreds of visiting supporters off, lining the towpath and slip to cheer on their crews.

Racing started on cue at 8am with the first race seeing Coleraine Grammar School and Newry taking each other on head-to-head. Despite the rain, all races ran to time throughout the day with races every 4 minutes over the 1000m course.

The biggest medal hauls went to Coleraine (CGS), taking wins numerous categories a with a total of 15 Medals. But ‘the force’ was with many crews displaying grit and determination to make it first over the line, some making it past the mark by inches, amazing even themselves.

The junior crews excelled again – ‘they knew what they had to do and didn’t look back’. Portadown MJ15 crews winning four out of their five races, with junior crews from Bann, Blackrock and many other clubs putting in excellent performances and claiming the medals.

It was a winning day in every way, with each participating club taking home at least one medal.

At 5.30pm the party was over, and the mist continued to roll over the Bann – next year will come soon and it will be just as good.

Full results at https://www.rowingireland.ie/regatta-hors/results/

2024-05-07T15:55:59Z dg43tfdfdgfd