Lough Rynn in Co. Leitrim was the spectacular venue for a major event on the international standard six lane rowing course near Mohill.

The J16 and J18 rowers from Enniskillen Royal Boat Club attended and experienced some serious opposition from the other four provinces.

The Boys’ J18 eights event was probably the highlight of the day but the boys from the Erne could not hold on to their lead at 1,200 metres and the St. Joseph’s College crew from Galway pushed very hard and got through and maintained their lead until the line. Much will have been learned from the manner of this defeat but there is plenty of time to rectify the situation.This means each club has one win each this season so far.

There was a comprehensive win over RBAI in the J18 B four for Rory Keogh, Jacob Halliday, Joshua Coalter, John O’Kane and cox Iain Fleming.

A pleasing win by Andrew Cuthbertson, Evan Donaghy, Austin Cassidy, Luke Bailey and Cox Jessica Thompson in the J16 4 over St Joseph’s will give the Galway club much to ponder in the weeks ahead.

The final boys win came in the J16 quad where Jamie Dunlop, Charlie Lynn, Christian Timoney, Harry Coalter and cox Iain Fleming beat Commercial Dublin, Sligo and Muckross. Other strong performances by two J16 eights did not go unnoticed as no final selection has been made there yet.

The Girls’ J18 eight did not disappoint when they won handsomely from two Galway rowing club crews and Commercial.There will be much harder races ahead but this crew is building up an impressive list of sprint wins. Clodagh O’Donnell, Eva Johnston, Rachel Cullinan, Chloe Thompson, Laura Turner, Kate Huddleston, Rhea Cartin-McCloskey Acorn Cassidy and cox Jessica Thompson were in this crew.

Turner, Thompson, Cullinan and Cassidy won the fours event also.

The J16 four of Erin Trimble, Ruby Hamilton, Zara Welsh, Annabelle Kingston and cox Shannon McCann beat Tralee and a crew from their own club. Good to see strength in depth at the lower age group.

The J16 eight had a very tough race against Commercial and came in second beating three other crews. Again there are lessons to be learned here and further crew selections to take place.

This was a high class event and the rowers from the Erne have shown they are up the with the best in Ireland.