Thrills and spills for Foyle Paddlers Canoe Club

Foyle Paddlers members pictured at the Mourne White Water Race. From left to right are, Rohan Chada, Moore McGinley, John McCarron and Denis Hutton.

The competition - which is the second biggest white water race in Ireland after the Liffey Descent - witnessed a huge increase on the previous year’s entries and attracted kayakers and canoeists from as far away as Cork.

And the 6.5 mile County Tyrone race from Newtownstewart to Sion Mills proved highly successful for local paddlers, with members of the Prehen-based club featuring prominently, particularly in the Under-18 Boys and Girls GP section.

Conditions were favourable this year, with mild weather and some rain prior to the race.

The competitors were released in three separate groups. The faster K1s, White water racers, and C1s, who were mainly southern based, set off first.

These were followed by the General Purpose category, with the Open Boats released a few minutes later.

The biggest entry by far, was in the Tandem Open Boats, with an excellent 22 teams taking part.

There didn’t seem to be too many swimmers at the dreaded ‘Fisheries’ section this year where the rapids begin about one mile downstream of Newtownstewart.

And when the weary paddlers reached the finish line at Sion Mills Weir, they were treated to the customary Foyle Paddling Canoe Club hospitality.

When the finishing times were calculated, Foyle Paddlers members featured well yet again in the Under-18 Boys & Girls GP section with many of the paddlers taking part in their first ever race!

Foyle Paddlers Canoe club wish to thank everyone who competed or assisted in any way.

The club were delighted with the turnout and hope to make it even bigger and better in 2014.