Myross and Castletownbere impress at worlds in Canada

MYROSS men’s quad crew made a splash in September by winning the Irish Offshore Championship in Kerry in emphatic style. They represented Ireland at the World Rowing Coastal Championships in Victoria, Canada, and again brought their top form, finishing an impressive fifth when competing against the world’s top 20 crews.

The other standout performance from West Cork came in the women’s quad category where Castletownbere finished sixth, improving on last year at their debut worlds in France, where they finished 14th.

The other two West Cork representatives to make A finals were in the singles categories.  Laura O’Neill of Kilmacsimon successfully navigated through the heats and finished 12th in the A final. Andrew Hurley of Bantry for the second worlds in a row made the A final, finishing 16th. 

 In this category, Ireland was also represented by the talented northern rower Patrick Boomer, who finished an impressive fifth. 

Two other West Cork entries just missed out on qualifying for A finals by seconds, Courtmacsherry men’s quad crew and Barry Hooper of Galley in the singles.  Both went on to perform superbly in their respective B finals, each finishing in second position.

Other notable West Cork results include a women’s composite crew with two Kilmacsimon and two Courtmacsherry rowers which finished seventh in the B final.  Kilmacsimon’s Eoin O’Neill finished 16th in the singles B final.

In the men’s double, Richie Browne of Myross teamed up with Fintan Gilsenan of Castletownbere and finished 12th in the B final where Courtmacsherry’s Brian Whelton and George Henchion finished 14th.

Of the 18 crews from Ireland at the worlds, West Cork clubs provided nine, its largest contingent ever, and again confirms that West Cork is central to rowing’s great progress in Ireland.