Irish Coastal Rowing Crews Rise To The Celtic Challenge

3rd May 2017

Dun Laoghaire Harbour based St Michael's Rowing Club won the ladies race in 26 hours

Irish crews were to the fore in last weekend's grueling 150km row across the Irish Sea from Arklow to Aberystwyth. The Vartry Rowing Club from Wicklow won both the overall Challenge Trophy and the Mens Race in just under 19 hours.

Dun Laoghaire's St Michael's Rowing Club won the ladies race in 26 hours in a determined and gutsy performance. The difficult conditions took its toll and only four out of the 13 starters finished with Dun Laoghaire's St Michael's Mixed team in their traditional timber skiff been unlucky to break their rudder just five miles from the finish.

Celtic rowing Challenge The St Michael's mixed team in the traditional skiff alongside the ladies team in the Celtic Challenge longboat

The ladies support boat, The Pamela, skippered by Eamonn and Alan Crosbie (National YC), was awarded the Spirit Of The Challenge trophy for sticking by the ladies all the way before heading straight back to Dun Laoghaire in a building breeze, eventually arriving home at 3am!

The next race takes place in 2019.

Published in Coastal Rowing

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Coastal Rowing

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