The 60th Erne Head of the River will bring together 90 crews, 600 rowers and some top class rowing quality on Lough Erne on Saturday.

Enniskillen Royal Boat Club head coach Derek Holland is expecting some fantastic rowing to mark a significant milestone in the history of rowing in Fermanagh.

“There is some great quality across the board in the entries especially the top end of senior rowing and junior rowing in Ireland,” said the former Olympian who added.

“For the first time in a few years all the senior 8+ will race this early in the season giving a good indication of the season ahead.”

Leading the way for the home club will be the ERGS boys junior 8+ who are the current Irish champions and the girls junior 8+ crew.

Coach Holland believes that the strength of the entry is down to the quality of the event rather than the occasion of the 60th Erne Head and he is delighted to see so many of the top clubs play their cards this early in the season.

“I don’t think it is because it is the 60th Head that the entry is so strong but rather what we are trying to do is make it the most attractive Head of River event on the Rowing Ireland calendar where all the top eights and fours come together and race each other after a long winter (like London Head of River) and gauge how there training has gone. “Too many clubs are afraid to test their crews early in the season in Ireland over the last 10 years or so, which has been a great shame for the sport as it makes it a pretty boring winter for the rowers and coaches. We don’t want massive entries, what we are looking for is top quality crews fighting it out over the 4.25 mile course.”

Derek hopes that Enniskillen Royal Boat Club can pick up a few wins on home water as the rowers battle for places.

“As a club we hope to pick up a win or two, but really we just want to be in the mix at this time of year as we have a lot of rowers who are fighting hard to get into our first crews for the season ahead.

“The winter training has gone really well over the last five months. The rowers have really raised their game as we know we have to be better than last year in order to be competitive. We know we are in good shape for the season ahead and will play around with a few different events in the coming months before we decide what we will aim for in the lead into the end of the season in particular the British National Schools and the Irish Championships,” revealed Derek.

With the weather forecast looking dry but cold at the minute, it all looks set fair for some great racing as the sport of rowing enjoys an increased profile with the successes of former Boat Club rower Holly Nixon at the world championships and the O’Donovan brothers at the Olympics.

Derek Holland, though, also believes that the recent successes of the Boat Club which has seen it occupy the top spot in junior rowing in Ireland for the past couple of years has attracted more athletes to the sport.

“Rowing has enjoyed a high profile over the last number of years, especially on the back of the Coleraine Olympic rowers, the O’Donovan brothers and Holly Nixon successes. Also, we are a high achieving club and we attract a lot of keen kids looking to get started. They still have to work hard however as a lot think by just turning up that they will be guaranteed a successful time with us, it doesn’t work that way,” concluded Derek.

Saturday will also see a return to action for a local crew in the Men’s Masters event.

The Portora Boat Club has been created by old Portorans, parents of rowers from ERGS and other Fermanagh schools and, in so doing, continuing the traditions of the old Portora Boat Club and will challenge at the Head of the River having been training for the last year. Affectionately known as the Ancient Mariners, they are sure to garner plenty of support from the river’s edge and add to what is sure to be a great event.

The race will be visible from the start point four miles downstream of Enniskillen Royal Grammar School (ERGS) Boat Club with the best views from the Killyhevlin Hotel, Riverside in Cornagrade and the finish line at Portora Boathouse itself.

Beginning at 1.15pm, each crew will start at 30 second intervals on a race to the finish line at Portora Boathouse. The 90 boats will stream over the finish line from 1.45pm; for some, setting new records and for others getting to the finish line, the main achievement.