The prestigious Erne Head of the River 2022 will take place on Lough Erne for the first time since 2019 on Saturday.

Severe flooding in 2020, just prior to the first coronavirus lockdown, caused the cancellation of this annual highlight in the local sporting calendar while the pandemic restrictions meant the 2021 event could not be held either.

With some degree of normality since Christmas, an exceptional 101 crews will take part from the traditional starting point at the Killyhevlin before making their way down the challenging 6km course to finish at Enniskillen Royal Boat Club (ERBC).

Among those 101 crews, home club ERBC will send some 10 crews into battle from Junior 15 up to Junior 18 age categories.

ERBC did host a very successful Erne Fours Head in November and they will be hoping to build on the positives from that day.

ERBC head coach Derek Holland is looking forward to getting top-class action back on The Erne.

He said: “It will be good to get back, that’s for sure, and to have some of the best crews in Ireland competing again on Lough Erne before the start of the Regatta season.”

Derek added: “There is some strong competition in the Senior section with the likes of UCD, NUIG and Trinity, while the Junior Men’s section has eight or nine really strong crews.

“The Junior Women’s crews will also face some tough competition as well.

“It will be a great opportunity for our local crews to see exactly where they are at this year.”

The weather has also started to come good after two weeks of rain, wind and snow.

“Thankfully, the forecast looks good and the level of the lough is receding every day. If the Head of the River had been last week, we would have been in trouble, especially the younger rowers, but thankfully, it is looking good at this stage.”

Derek is hopeful of good showings from the home crews: “Preparations have been going well – we’ve had a few injuries but all the rowers have been working hard since Christmas.

“Unfortunately, not all of the younger rowers will get to compete as it is a tough challenge. After the Erne Head we are sending two crews to Schools Head of the River, so it is a busy time, but everyone is happy to be back competing.”

It will also be a poignant day for the club as they award two trophies in memory club stewards the late Sir Anthony Hart and Tom Noble.

The Sir Anthony Hart Memorial Trophy will be awarded for the first time to the winners of the J18 8 Women’s, and the Tom Noble Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the first crew in the J16 8 Men’s section.

Members of both the Hart and Noble families will be in attendance.

On the water there should be some top-class racing with the entry list including university crews featuring some former ERBC members from DUBC, UCD, Queens and NUIG, while the Men’s Junior Irish Champions, St. Joseph’s (The Bish), will feature in the J18 8 Men’s race.

In addition to the young ERBC rowers, Portora Boat Club will race two crews in the Men’s and Women’s Eights Veteran’s section, with the women also forming a composite crew with Portadown.

Racing will start at 1.30pm from the Killyhevlin.

Numbers to look out for

the10 ERBC crews

Men’s Club 1 4+ crew 68

Men’s Junior eight – 7

Men’s J16 eight – 53

Men’s J16 4X+ - 82

Men’s J15 8X+ - 93

Women’s Junior Eight – 28

Women’s J16 eight – 77

Women’s J16 4X+ 96

Women’s 15 8X+ 99

Women’s J15 8X+ 101