As oarsmen from Portora Boat Club demonstrate their prowess at Henley Royal Regatta this week, a group of fathers representing the club’s Parents’ Support Group are preparing to set off this weekend on their mammoth cycle across Ireland.

The dads are taking up the challenge of the 400 miles’ route from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork, Ireland’s most northerly and southerly points, to help raise some much needed funds to continue the great work which is going on at Portora Boat Club. They intend to arrive in Cork in time for the start of the 2015 Irish Rowing Championships.

Neville McClements, of Portora Boat Club’s Parents’ Support Group, pointed out this week that “it’s really down to the business end of the rowing season now for the boys and girls of Portora Boat Club.” He says the girls J8+ have just returned from competing at Henley Women’s Regatta, where they rowed superbly in their quarter-final to beat St. George’s school by a length in a time of 5min 03secs, the fastest of all the quarter-finalists.

“Unfortunately they were beaten in turn by 1-3/4 lengths by a strong crew from Kent School, Connecticut in their semi-final,” said Neville, who described it as a great experience for the girls and definitely something to build on for the forthcoming Irish Championships.

“The crew, made up of girls from Portora, Mount Lourdes and the Collegiate did their Club, their coaches, their parents, their schools and Fermanagh proud,” he said.

On Friday past, the Portora boys 8+ took part in a time trial at Henley, hoping to achieve one of 11 available spots out of 25 crews, all competing for the right to be in the draw for the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. “They more than achieved their goal, setting the fastest time of all by some 10 seconds,” highlights Neville.

Last night, Wednesday, the young rowers were scheduled to race against King’s College School at 7.10pm.

Portora’s first appearance at Henley Royal Regatta since the eighties, people are advised they can follow their progress on the Henley Royal Regatta YouTube channel, which is subscription free at https://www.youtube.com/user/HenleyRoyalRegatta.

“While all of this is going on the junior crews from J14 to J16 are busily training in the lead up to Cork and the 2015 Irish Championships,” said Neville, who along with his fellow cyclists will arrive in Cork for the start of the Championships. This Sunday, July 5, they are ready for the off from Malin Head.

In between now and Sunday some of the parents are travelling over to Henley to cheer the boys on.

This week saw the group take delivery of a support van for the event, kindly supplied by Patrick McCaffrey of Western Cars. Huge thanks are extended by the group to all of the businesses who have provided sponsorship or assistance and who have made the whole venture possible.

They express gratitude to everyone who has sponsored the riders individually or donated through the on-line giving page at https://www.givey.com/portoraboatclubpsgcycle.

Anyone, still wishing to donate, is advised it’s not too late, and that it only takes a couple of minutes to sign up with Givey.