Millar and Seaman finish sixth in Banyoles
Editorial Department • Published 26 Jul 2012 13:00
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Pictured at the Home Internationals in Cardiff are: (from left) John Walsh (coach), Colm O'Riada, Will Yeomans, Chris Alcorn, Gary Thornton and Jamie Bradley (coach).
Talented Fermanagh oarsmen Henry Millar and Lloyd Seaman, who recently collected top honours in the Irish Rowing Championships in Cork, were in Spain last weekend competing in the Coupe de la Jeunesse (Western European Championships) in Banyoles.
The two rowers from the boat club at Portora Royal School joined Fionnan Tolan and James Egan of St. Joseph's, Galway, to compete for Ireland as members of a Junior Men's Four on two days of very competitive racing.
Henry and Lloyd were in the same event last year when they medalled but this year the standard was exceptional and in spite of some serious rowing they finished sixth in the final.
(They came third in the heats on both Saturday and Sunday and on both afternoons took sixth place in the A finals, which were won by the Polish crew.)
Both boys have finished their junior rowing career and what a successful one it has been - culminating with two wins in the Irish championships the previous weekend.
(They were in the victorious men's junior 18 four and the men's junior 18 pair).
Henry, an A'level student at Portora, and Lloyd, an A'level student at Devenish College, Enniskillen, both intend to continue in the sport and a bright future beckons.
Portora oarswoman Katie Cromie was also out in Spain training for the World Junior championships in late August and the word is that her crew is going well.
The past weekend also proved a most successful one for Gary Thornton, from the boat club at Portora, who represented Ireland in the Home International regatta in Cardiff and was successful in beating England, Scotland and Wales in the men's junior fours event. (Ireland came first, Wales second, England third, and Scotland fourth.) Gary also rowed for Ireland in the men's junior eight, when the crew achieved third place. (Wales 1st, England 2nd, and Scotland fourth.)
This achievement marked a fitting end to his junior career for Gary, who will continue his A'level studies at Portora in September.
The 17-year-old was also a member of the successful men's junior 18 four from Portora, who raced to victory at the Irish Rowing Championships at Inishcarra Lake. Gary, Lloyd and Henry were joined by oarsman Joe Nelson and cox Natasja Doonan as they took their well deserved place on the winners' podium.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 26 Jul 12
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