Four crews from Portora Boat Club travelled to Newry last Saturday.

There was triumph and tragedy over the 5,000m course which finished in the town centre.

First to race was a double sculls partnership of Rachael Wright and Helen Flanagan who completed the course in just over 26 minutes.

This was the first time ever a Portora Women’s crew have competed in this type of boat.

In the afternoon race for over-50s quad sculls, there were mixed fortunes.

The Portora B crew – who had improved significantly in training – had a major technical malfunction near the start and were unable to compete, limping home very disappointed.

For the A crew of Marcella O’Reilly, Siobhan O’Hare-Smith, Helen Flanagan and Carmel Dane, there was major success.

Sculling at a rate of 27 strokes per minute the crew powered home to win by a mere two seconds, beating a much more experienced and successful crew from Belfast Boat Club along with Lagan Scullers and Portadown.

This makes it three wins in a row following success at Carrick-on-Shannon and Erne Fours.

Competing in a composite double crew with Athlone, Gerry Murphy won the over-65 category, beating younger crews from City of Derry and Lagan Boat Club on handicap.

Coach Simon Dickie had mixed emotions: “The Quad win was a triumph for our club over fancied opposition, but going all the way to Newry only to succumb to an equipment failure was a tragedy.

“The rowers involved are gutted and we all feel for them; however, I am certain they will bounce back.”

Portora Boat Club’s next race will be on the river Lagan in Belfast at the start of February with both men’s and women’s crews taking part.