By Heidi Giles (Club Captain)

This past weekend saw Tralee Rowing Club transition from Head of the River time trial season into the side by side straight course racing of regatta season.

There were 45 rowers — women and men, from Junior 14 to Masters — who entered Skibbereen regatta. This event takes place over 2 days at the National Rowing Centre and is the first of 4 grand league regattas in the season.

It usually marks the change from wooly hats to sunscreen in early May. The earlier date was blessed with great rowing conditions which despite the lack of sunshine suited the Tralee rowers.

Many rowers were experiencing their first regatta, first final or first win and the club committee would like to congratulate them all.

Tralee RC is predominantly a sculling club (rowers row with 2 oars) but following on from racing an 8+ for the first time earlier this year two further sweep crews (rowers row with one oar) entered this event, a junior 18 womens pair and a mens club 1 four. This development offers club members more options, more challenges and more learning.

The Club is really delighted to have brought home some medals, Daragh Morris 1st in the Mens Junior 15 1x, Sean Morris 1st in the Mens Junior 18B 1x, Paula Moloney, Edel O’Sullivan, Fiona Morris, Heidi Giles and cox Clodagh Morris won the women’s masters 4x+.

Beyond the medals there were many results to celebrate, Luke Passway came 2nd in the Men’s J14 1x, Sean Morris qualified for the A final of the Mens division 1 1x.

Daragh Morris won the C final in the Men’s Div 2 1x, Sadhbh Cadogan and Rosie Giles came third in the C Final of of the Womens Division 1 2-, their first outing in a pair and Grace O’Sullivan and Catherine Steward came 3rd in the B final of the womens div 2 2x, their first outing in a double.

We are excited for the remainder of the season and hope all our crews learn from and build on the experience of this weekend.

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