Record-breaking season for Cairndhu Rowing Club

The Championships were held in Whitegate, Co. Cork, on August 14 and 15. Cairndhu Rowing Club travelled the 295 miles to Cork with 36 members and three boats, joining over 2,000 competitors from all over Ireland.

The Senior Ladies crew won a gold medal in the Ladies Open Classic race, rowing The Dawn, and a silver medal in the Senior Ladies race, losing out on gold by just one second. The Ladies also borrowed an Out-Rigger boat and won silver in that race, having never rowed a boat of this type before.

Cairndhu’s Intermediate men gave the spectators a treat on finals day with an exciting race, narrowly missing out on a gold medal after leading the race until the final sprint. This was Cairndhu’s first men’s medal in the universal boat. The crew also won a silver medal in the Men’s Open Classic race.

Both the Junior Ladies and the Junior Men had podium finishes, winning bronze medals in the Open Classic race. A special thanks to Carnlough Rowing Club for lending the Cairndhu crews their classic boat The Laurel. The Ladies’ Intermediate, Under 21 and Under 18 crews qualified for the finals and put in strong performances in the face of stiff competition.

Cairndhu also had a first for Irish Coastal Rowing with two Senior Mixed crews in the final, after a change to the rules allowing multiple entries in each race. Both crews did extremely well and the mixed crews fought right until the finish line,coming in fifth and sixth.

The All Irelands capped another fantastic season for Cairndhu, with success at the regattas in Carnlough, Glenarm and Cairndhu over the summer. Well done to the juniors at the club, who completed a 4km sponsored row in July from Cairndhu Rowing Club to East Antrim Boat Club.

The club would like to send out a huge thank you to all its supporters this season: Stitt Marine, Jacksons Butchers (Ballynure), Ann’s Pantry, McKeens Butchers and The Olderfleet Bar who have all helped to make it a successful season. Thanks is also extended to Bobby McFarlane for hosting a very successful ‘Night at the Races’. A great night was had by all and it raised some much-needed funds for the club. Thanks also to Allan Dorman and Son, Comet Cleaners, D.Watt Quality Butchers, Plata Jewellers, Impress Dry Cleaning and Pollocks Jewellers for their sponsorship.

The whole club has pulled together and worked hard this year to attract new members and encourage juniors to take up rowing. Thanks to Phil Ford- Hutchinson and Lee Stirling the club safety officers, the coxes who steer to glory every year, and a special mention must go out to Anne Snoddy for all her hard work and dedication. Congratulations to the Club Committee this year for such a great year in 2010, and a special thanks to Club Captain Gordon.

A special thanks goes to Whiteford Geoservices for the use of a van for the All-Ireland weekend, P&O Irish Sea and Alan Dorman for their continued support and Davy Black, founding club member and builder of The Dawn, which brought home a gold and a silver medal. Thanks to the Glenarm Rowing Club members who travelled down to the event as stewards and show great support every year.