It was back to training for the girls at Enniskillen Royal Boat Club this week as the Henley Royal Regatta Qualifiers beckoned. The boys and girls J18 4X crews headed off to Henley early this morning (Thursday) with one thing on their minds, to qualify to compete in next week’s highly prestigious Henley Royal Regatta.

Qualifiers take place tomorrow evening with the boys crew of Nathan Timoney, Jack Kennedy, Odhran Donaghy and Jack McDade, Crew No 355, up first at 6.35pm with the fastest seven out of the 50 crews looking to qualify will go on to row with the 17 crews who have already pre qualified to compete in the Fawley Challenge Cup.

Crews have travelled from Norway, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. The crews from the UK include Leander, St Paul’s School, Monmouth School among others.

The girls four of Zoe McCutcheon, Maeve Donnelly, Victoria Wilson and Caragh Leonard, Crew No 413, start their campaign at 7pm with nine crews out of the 43 crews going on to compete along with 11 who have already qualified for the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup.

Crews have travelled from Australia and Germany as well as Headington, Henley and Bedford Modern

ERBC coach, Derek Holland is confident that both of his crews will make it through the qualifying stage and will go onto the next round which starts on Wednesday July 3 and finishes on Sunday July 7.

Meanwhile, 15 Ladies from the Parent Support Group walked the Causeway Coast Way to raise money for the Club last weekend.

Over two days they walked 33 miles around the stunning North Coast coastline starting on the beautiful Portstewart beach on Saturday morning, taking in sights including Dunluce Castle, Giants Causeway, Ballintoy Harbour, Carrick a Rede Rope bridge and finishing triumphantly in Ballycastle on Sunday night. These much needed funds will go towards purchasing new boats for the growing numbers of kids rowing at ERBC.

If you would like to support this event you can do so by donating here until Sunday https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jennifer-conway-133?