A brave 120 souls, made up the 48 crews from eight rowing clubs across Ireland descended on the mouth of Lough Neagh, at the Bann Foot on Saturday to enjoy the annual Portadown Boat Club Marascull race.
Though chilly, the autumn sunshine matched the mood of the crews when they were taking to the water at 11.30am. The conditions were perfect for the 15k endurance race, and the promise of favourable wind most of the day.
The Lagan Scullers foursome of Watts, Oliver, Hull and McBurney stormed their way down the 15k course from the Bann foot to Portadown PBC to win the overall event.
The powerful quad broke the existing record of over 57 minutes, winning this year’s event in a flying 53 minutes and 57 seconds.
The Portadown hosts were delighted that the top spot and record went to home grown talent, as Nathan Hull a previous rower with Portadown, has enjoyed international success winning gold for GB in the 2021 European Championships U23 category in the double scull event.
The travelling clubs were rewarded for their journeys, with Methody College leading the medal table with their Junior 18 Men’s, Junior 16 Men’s, Junior 15 Men’s, Women’s Junior 18 quads and Junior 18 Women’s Single (S Young) getting the winning times.
Lagan Scullers took first place in the Men’s Double in the open category, the crew from Athlone of Gallen and Kenny winning the Men’s Masters Double and the boys from Coleraine took the Doubles prize for Junior 16 Men’s.
The foolhardy folks taking to the long course solo, winning the Men’s Masters Single, Gerry Murphy from Portora and the Women’s Masters single was Claire McCann on home waters.
The City of Derry mixed doubles crew of McKinney and Togher proudly displayed that age is honourable in rowing and tested the course with a time of 1.06 proving what can be achieved even in retirement.
Special recognition went to Eilish Byrne, previous Paralympian who made steady headway down the gruelling 15k course making it over the finish line in a time of 2.01 to rapturous applause. Eilish is the first Para-rower to complete the Marascull and already looks forward to her next competitive event.
Hats off to all the junior scullers who navigated the course without any difficulty and completing it in great time. The hosts provision of hot beverages and a wide selection of soups did not last long, with the hungry rowers tucking in and all the competitors leaving happily with their Nutty Krusts.
The Marascull kicks off the autumn rowing season Portadown Boat Club and many others, with crews now looking forward to the Head Races commencing with the Bann Head scheduled for next Saturday, October 21 at Bann Rowing Club, Coleraine.