Enniskillen Royal Boat Club had a very successful day at the Junior Championships 1K Classic at the National Rowing Centre in Cork last Saturday, winning six categories. They also had eight second place and five third place finishes, resulting in them being the top club overall.

This was the first time since 2019 that the Junior rowers, J13 - J15, have competed at the NRC due to the pandemic, and all 35 crews performed extremely well.

The first win of the day came from the Boys’ Junior 14 octo who have been performing consistently well all season.

The crew of Christian Timoney, Joshua Ihnat, Eoghan Campbell, Lorcan Sreenivasan, Austin Cassidy, Luke Bailey, Ryan Topping, Evan Donaghy and Cox Katelyn Fee were absolutely delighted to finish off their season with this win at the Junior Championships.

They finished sixth at the National Schools’ Regatta at Eton Dorney back in May, and have built on that great result to go on and take the win last weekend.

The girls’ J14 Octo A crew, who had also performed well at the British National Schools Regatta, were the next crew to take the Junior Championship title in Cork.

Milena Remedios, Jessica Kingston, Molly Rice, Errie Powell, Jessica Thompson, Naomi Robinson, Erin Trimble, Hannah Armstrong and Katelyn Fee held off the challenge from the two St. Michael’s crews to close the line well ahead, much to the delight of the many parents and supporters who had travelled to Cork.

The MJ 15 4x+ crew of Owen Kelly, George Kernaghan, Hugo McChesney, Evan Donaghy and Cox Lorcan Sreenivasan had a superb win over the crews from Offaly and St. Joseph’s.

The MJ14 4X+ crew of Lorcan Sreenivasan, Luke Bailey, Ryan Topping, Evan Donaghy and Daniel Montgomery had a great win over the crew from St. Michael’s RC, Limerick.

Zara Welsh, in the WJ14 single scull, had a great race from start to finish to take the Junior Champs Title.

ERBC’S last win of the day came from the youngest rowers, the WJ13 4X+ crew of Grace Collons, Caitlin Kelly, Natalie Turner, Emily Black and cox Abbey Wilson.

The WJ 14 8X+ C crew of Brook Davis, Tori Davis, Abbie Magwood-McCarthy, Abbey Johnston, Isabella Wright, Natalie Turner, Grace Collins, Emily Black and Cameron Bell had a good race, crossing the finish line in second place.

Led from the start

The WJ 4X+ crew of Errie Powell, Molly Rice, Erin Trimble, Jessica Thompson and Cox Abbey Wilson led from the start of their 1km race, only to be just pipped on the finish line by Sligo RC.

There were great second place finishes for Cillian Donaghy in the MJ 14 Scull and for George Kernaghan in the MJ15 sculling event.

Eva Johnston had led her WJ15 single scull race from the start, only to be overtaken by the sculler from Cork with approximately 100m to the finish line.

The MJ13 4X+ crew of Dara McMurray-Taylor, Jacob Woods, Joshua Ihnat, Cameron Bell and cox Ben Cameron had a great race, coming second, just behind the crew from Castleconnell BC.

ERBC had two crews in the MJ15 8X+ race and they finished a very close second and third, behind Cappoquin, who crossed the line just ahead of the A crew.

In the final of MJ14 4X+ there were also two ERBC crews in action, and again they finished in second and third places, behind the crew from Muckross RC.

There was a third place finish for the WJ15 4X+ crew of Zara Welsh, Hannah Armstrong, Mollie McLaughlin, Rachel Cathcart and cox Zara Lindsay.

There was a third place finish for Hugo McChesney in the MJ15 scull and for the MJ14 8x+ B crew of Dara McMurray-Taylor, Harley Sheppard, Ben Cameron, Jacob Woods, Cillian Donaghy, Bruno Maguire-Favro, Jamie Dunlop, Charlie Lynn and cox Daniel Montgomery.

The MJ 15 4X+ crew of Joe Murphy, William Bogle, Justin Smith, Oliver Mooney and cox Daniel Montgomery came third in their final.

These young crews show great promise as ERBC looks forward to next season. Head of Rowing, Derek Holland, was delighted with the performances of all the rowers.

“All our Junior rowers should be very proud of themselves and the performances that they put in on Saturday and all season. This is only the start of their journey.

“It was great for the younger rowers to be able to compete in Cork this year, having missed out for the last few years.