The magnificent seven: international selection for Athlone rowers and coaches

Following an arduous Rowing Ireland trial process, five Athlone Boat Club athletes were selected to represent their club and country on the international rowing stage this summer. In addition, two renowned club coaches have been selected to coach crews for these events.

Trialling for international selection begins in September each year and over the next nine months rowers are tested both on and off the water each month at the National Rowing Centre in Cork, also participating in week long training and assessment camps. Last month, following this 9-month period of challenging trials and assessments, Rowing Ireland announced the selected crews for the upcoming international regattas.

Rian Claffey was selected to represent Ireland at the Junior U-19 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharine’s, Canada commencing on August 18. Rian recently claimed the much coveted Junior Men’s individual scull national Championship, a race he led from the start, showed Rian’s strength and ability. His selection for this year’s U19 World Championships is well deserved.

Rian will race the Junior 19 Men’s Quad with his crewmates Sean Morris (Tralee BC), Jack Rafferty (St Michael’s BC) and Michael McGrath (Cappoquin BC).

Adam Kenny and Richard Heaslip were selected to represent Ireland at the Coupe de la Jeunesse Regatta in Racice, Czech Republic this month. Adam’s fine sculling in this year’s lightweight men’s sculling final at the National Championship demonstrated his talent at such a young age and Adam raced the Junior 19 Men’s Quad with his crew mates Daniel Fleming (Muckross RC), Eoin Balfe (St Michael’s BC) and Ian Coffey (Muckross RC).

Richard Heaslip was selected to row in the Junior 19 Men’s single scull event at the Coupe de la Jeunesse. Richard’s fine performance at the National Championship earned him a silver medal at the Junior 16 scull event. Richard’s achievement is all the more impressive as he currently rows at Junior 16 level at National events and will compete at Junior 19 level in Racice Czech Republic.

Zach Meegan (J18) was selected to row at the Home International regatta in Strathclyde, Scotland which featured rowing teams from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Zach and his crew mate Harry McCartney from Methodist BC took gold in a race with a very close finish between 1st and 2nd place crews.

Zach along with Rian, Adam and Richard were the winning Junior Men’s Quad at this year’s National Championship and it is remarkable that all four of this crew have been selected to row for Ireland this year.

Tremendous credit must go to Alan Kenny and Fergus Hannon, the Junior 18 Men’s coaches at Athlone Boat Club to have all four athletes rowing at such a high calibre.

Testament to the coaching talents for this crew, Fergus Hannon has been selected to coach the Junior Men’s sculling crews for this year’s World Championships event in Canada following on from his selection to coach the Junior Men’s Coupe de la Jeunesse sculling team in Amsterdam in 2023.

Anna O’Grady (WJ18) was selected to represent Ireland at the Homes international Regatta following her impressive performances throughout the trialling period and her racing talent was evident at the recent Grand League Regattas.

Anna cemented her prowess at this year’s national championships where she rowed with distinction in her individual sculling events and, all the more impressive, she will also be eligible to compete at Junior 18 level in the 2025 season.

Together with her crew mate Sarah Rockett, they were crowned National Champions in the Junior Women’s double.

At the Homes international regatta, Anna rowed in the Junior Women’s individual scull securing an impressive second place finish and also competed in the Junior Women’s Quad event with her crew mates, Aine Gaffney (Shandon BC), Laoise Molumby (Commercial BC) and Alannah Keane (Skibbereen BC).

Anna’s coach Paul Donovan was selected by Rowing Ireland to coach the Junior Women’s sculling team for the Home International Regatta, another nod to the coaching ability of Athlone Boat Club.

In addition to the club's international selections, Athlone Boat Club is proud to acknowledge the achievements of Donagh Claffey, an Athlone Boat Club member and now rowing with the University of Galway Boat Club and Brian Colsh, also with University of Galway BC. Both have also been selected to row in the Under-23 World Championships in St Catharine’s Canada. Brian is the son of Tommy Colsh a previous Athlone Boat Club member and nephew of Kenny Colsh, a coach at the club.

Also noteworthy is Adam Grace, crew member of the winning the Men’s 4 event at the Home international Regatta. Adam was a previous member of Athlone boat club, now rowing with the University of Limerick.

Masters shine in Munich

Not leaving it all to the Junior crews, the Masters rowers in the club once again took to the European stage at the renowned Olympic Park in Munich, Germany for the Europeans Masters Championships. Athlone Boat Club had crews representing the club across a variety of races.

The mighty Paul Gallen retained his European Masters title with a phenomenal race in the 1x.Paul was joined by Mickey Keane, Frances Keane, John O’Meara, Des Campbell, Damien Larkin, Kenny Colsh, Benny Dunne, Emmet Cronin, Mickey Murtagh, Aidan Murray and Padraig Duncan (cox), who also took part in various Masters events throughout the tournament.

An exciting addition to the travelling team was the Women’s Masters 8. Some of this strong crew included novice rowers but this did not deter from their competitive race in which this crew demonstrated that the hours of winter training had paid off. Proudly representing the club in this event was Jenny Burke, Karen Rock, Refilia Laffey, Olive Whyte, Sandra Cunningham, Denise Reynolds (cox), Teresa Larkin, Catherine McAteer, Anna Rock.

The achievement of all the mentioned athletes and coaches follows the culmination of months of hard work and dedicated training by each athlete and their coaches. Training in one of the finest rowing facilities in the country lends itself to these superb results. The hard working committee and coaching crews supported by parents, volunteers and the local community give Athlone Boat Club the ability to go from strength to strength.