Donagh Claffey took gold at the All-Ireland Rowing Championship helping Athlone boat club to team success.
Claffey took individual sculls gold and helped Athlone boat club to Men’s J18 quads and J18 Mens doubles gold.
Friday
The opening single sculling event on Friday August 20th was postponed to noon due to forecast of very inclement weather. All events taking place at the National Rowing Centre in Cork this past weekend, under some strict COVID-19 guidelines.
The torrential rain did not deter exceptional performances from both Martin O’Grady and Donagh Claffey who advanced to the final. Both rowers had only from the Junior World Rowing Championships in Bulgaria. Where both put on a great display of ability at their first ever international rowing event.
The torrential rain did little to distract Claffey as he powered through the field to claim Gold. Which was a faster winning time to that of our Irish Olympian Gary O’Donovan who won the Men’s Lightweight scull-final. Martin O’Grady finished fourth in this closely contested final.
Cian Scanlon put in an admirable race but fell short of qualifying for the same final.
Saturday
The weather was remarkably contrasting on Saturday morning. Calm conditions with lengthy spells of sunshine greeted the Men’s J18 quads, where both Athlone (A) and (B) crews against each other in heat two.
Athlone (A) produced a sublime performance winning their heat comfortably. Despite a strong performance the lightweight B crew; (S) Zach Megan, (3) Harry Lough, (2) Cian Scanlon and (B) Liam Rowan finished fourth outside qualification. Their time would have placed them in the final if they had taken part in heat one.
A large following of parents, coaches and Athlone Boat Club rowers gathered to support the Athlone A Crew. (S) Martin O’Grady, (3) Thomas O’Brien, (2) Donagh Claffey and (B) Cillian Lynum, as they led impressively from start to finish taking home gold.
Sunday
The Sunday sun warmed up the lanes for a blistering J18 Men’s doubles final which provided a fitting stage for the dynamic duo of Martin O’Grady and Donagh Claffey to emphatically win over runner-up Skibbereen A.
This strongly reflects their international pedigree after wonderful performances representing Ireland at the recent World Junior Rowing Championships in Bulgaria.
This pairing had the best time of 24 crews in the J18 men’s doubles time-trial, which also witnessed a superb performance by Athlone’s B crew of Thomas O’Brien and Cillian Lynum. They narrowly missed out on top six final places by a narrow margin of just two seconds.
This is an unprecedented national championship for Athlone Boat Club at this level as they were victorious in all their events at J18 men’s level this year.
The club committee would like to congratulate all crews representing Athlone Boat Club at this annual All-Ireland rowing championship event. Notably, all rowers are educated and supported locally at the Marist College; who in the recent years have provided the club with gym equipment and financial donations of which the club is very grateful for.
A special word of acknowledgement and congratulations from club president Paul Donovan to coaches Fergie Hannon, Paul Lynum, Mattie Lough and Alan Kenny and to all rowers parents.
The club now have an impressive array of highly sought-after national trophies to adorn the new boat house.
