Ballyclare: Former head girl who only took up rowing at university hopes to build on Henley Regatta success in Croatia
A Ballyclare rower is hoping to build on her recent Henley Women’s Regatta experience as she targets further success in Croatia.
Felicity McConnell was a member of the 4+ crew from Queen's University Belfast Ladies Boat Club (QUBLBC) who lifted the Frank v Harry Cup - a first for the club at the prestigious event.
Felicity and colleagues put previous disappointment behind them to triumph. There were more than 40 other crews in their category from across the UK with the main opponents being Oxford University and Lee Rowing Club.
"We had competed in the same event last year and were knocked out in the first round so we had a focus all year to go back and do much better,” Felicity explained.
"Rowing in Henley is amazing because it is just such a beautiful town and so iconic in the world of rowing.”
QUBLBC progressed through the time trials to place fifth, which pitted them against the University of Birmingham in their first round.
Felicity recalled: “We won that and proceeded into the quarter finals where we had to race Oxford A. This was a tight race and we knew they would be our toughest opponents. Thankfully we beat them and then went onto race Oxford B in the semi final who we beat by three boat lengths.
"Finally we progressed into the final where we raced Lee Rowing Club and managed to win with an 18 second lead. It was such an amazing feeling! The hard work and early mornings paid off.”
The latter is a reference to a training regime that sees them on the River Lagan Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday plus two sessions on a Saturday. They also have two sessions a week on a rowing machine and two-three gym sessions.
No stranger to sporting challenges, the former Tildarg Primary School pupil and Ballyclare High head girl comes from a beef and sheep farming background and previously competed in equestrian eventing. She took up rowing when she went to Queen’s in September 2024 to study Law.
"I knew I wanted to start a new sport when I went to university really as a way to make friends and get more involved with the university as a whole and rowing seemed like a good idea for me because I’m very tall so it made sense.
"Rowing was not something I’d ever done before as there are no rowing clubs around home so I have only been rowing for two years but have developed very quickly because Queen’s has one of the best beginner programmes in the UK and Ireland.
"We won multiple British and Irish Novice Championships last year which really spurred me to keep rowing.”
Next up are August’s University Europeans in Zagreb, Croatia, in a 2- (two people rowing with one blade each).
“I am rowing with Clara MacAnulty, who also rows for Queen’s and began rowing at the same time as me. We will be representing Irish Universities.”
And Felicity has words of encouragement for others who would like to take up rowing.
“I would one-hundred per-cent recommend the sport to everyone. It can be very tough but you don’t have to take it quite as seriously. It is a great way to meet people and it can take you far and wide."