The 60th Erne Head proved to be a fitting rowing celebration as 91 crews competed with home club Enniskillen Royal Boat Club, under its new name, enjoying a top class day on home water to be named top junior club.

The event was also notable as Trinity proved to be the fastest senior crew completing the course in 18 minutes and 30 seconds to repeat the win of their fellow club men back in the very first Erne Head in 1957.

The 60th Erne Head also saw a return to action of two Portora Boat Club veteran crews who competed with distinction in the Masters Class.

Enniskillen Royal Boat Club head coach Derek Holland acknowledged that it was a good day for the club as they came away with four victories on home water.

And he felt that it was also ideal preparation for what is set to be a busy few weeks of action.

“Overall we had a very successful day at the Erne Head winning four events on the day, making it a good warm up for the coming weeks when we head to the Lagan Head on March 18 and London School Head on March 23,” commented Holland.

First home for Enniskillen Royal was the Boys’ Junior 18 eight who won their section convincingly, placing sixth overall with a time of 19:02 and only 32 seconds behind the fastest senior men’s crew from Trinity.

Indeed, the Enniskillen lads beat all but one Intermediate eight from UCD who were only two seconds quicker.

The Boys’ Club eight, made up largely of those in year 11 and 12, won by 20 seconds against much older competition.

They had a fantastic row to complete the course in 20 minutes 07 seconds to finish 16th overall.

The Girls’ Junior 18 eight beat their Coleraine rivals from Bann Rowing Club by nearly 40 seconds to win.

They were beaten by only one Senior and one Intermediate crew as they finished 29th overall in a time of 21 minutes and 46 seconds. Maeve Donnelly in the 4 seat only started rowing in September.

The Girls’ Junior 16 eight won by 25 seconds in a time of 24 minutes and 27 seconds.

Portora A finished fifth in Master eights.

They finished 49th overall in a time of 22 minutes and 44 minutes.

The B crew were 2:23 behind and finished 72nd overall.

The Enniskillen Royal Boat Club performances meant that they won the trophy for the best overall junior club while the fastest eights on the day were the aforementioned Trinity and in the ladies, NUIG with a time of 21 minutes and 12 seconds.

Erne Head also had its first paralympic boat competing finishing the course in 25 minutes and 57 seconds.