Athletes from Portora Boat Club travelled to the world famous Munich Olympic Rowing Centre last weekend, competing in the European Masters Rowing Championship.

Seven athletes raced in a total of nine events bringing home three highly impressive gold medals.

Extremely impressive

The men’s D coxed four won gold in an extremely impressive 3min 16sec over 1000m, seeing off competition from various international teams.

The crew was led by Lisnaskea strokeman Colm McCreesh and was out in front by the 500m mark, winning by four seconds.

The crew included Colm McCreesh, Barry King, Shane McGovern, Keith Nixon and Rory Farragher (cox).

This win follows on from their success at the British Masters Championships in Nottingham in June.

Unfortunately, due to unsafe conditions the crew was unable to race in the C category coxed four event.

Rory Farragher expertly coxed and motivated the crew all the way down in the gold medal race. Farragher subsequently drove a number of high quality composite eights to exciting second place finishes.

Gerry Murphy picked up two golds in light weight single sculls.

Dominated

Competing against younger E category athletes, Murphy dominated early on and won handsomely.

His race with his peer F category was more competitive but yet again the Enniskillen Royal Boat Club coach showed his class at international level.

Murphy now has gold medals at national standard in Ireland and the UK, the prestigious Henley Masters and Euro Masters.

Janet Murphy teamed up with her husband Gerry for the first time at this level achieving a very good third place.

Gerry Murphy also rowed in composite quadruple and double sculls, scoring some excellent second places.

Captain of Men’s Rowing Shane McGovern was a very happy leader: “Our Fermanagh club coming home from the Munich Olympic Rowing Centre with three gold medals is a dream come true. Everyone involved has worked extremely hard and made huge sacrifices.

“Many other rowers and coaches helped and supported us to achieve what we have and I would like to thank them all, with special mention to Sebastiaan Peeters.

“Next year maybe Portora can win at the World Masters Regatta, it’s definitely realistic now.”