The banks of the River Blackwater were buzzing with energy on Sunday, July 6th, as New Ross Boat Club brought a powerful squad of 18 rowers to the Fermoy Sprints Regatta. With 23 crews entered across 18 race categories, the club’s juniors and masters delivered a thrilling day of racing, camaraderie, and standout performances.
Fermoy Sprints is no ordinary regatta. With races under 500 metres, it’s a test of explosive power, precision, and nerves of steel. And New Ross rose to the challenge.
“It really was wonderful to witness the camaraderie of everyone and the conduct of the youngsters in both victory and adversity.” — Tom Clarkin, President, New Ross Boat Club
The junior girls led the charge with two impressive wins. Katie Nolan stormed to victory in the J14 single scull, clocking the fastest time of the day in her category. Teammate Janey Cashman followed with a strong second-place finish in her heat, holding off a late surge from Castleconnell.
The duo then teamed up in the J14 double scull, delivering a dominant performance that left Cork and Cappoquin crews in their wake. Nolan and Cashman have been nearly unbeatable this season, and Fermoy was no exception.
Nolan was also in contention in the J15 single scull, but a clerical error saw her mistakenly omitted from the final despite qualifying—a tough break, but no doubt she’ll bounce back stronger.
A special mention goes to Isabel Rossiter, who made her senior debut and finished a commendable 7th in a competitive field.
The boys weren’t about to let the girls have all the glory. The J16 quad of Aogán Slater, Michael Murray, Henry Roche, and Cormac Crotty, coxed by Kevin Phelan, powered into the final and secured a strong third-place finish.
In the J18 double sculls, New Ross fielded two crews. Liam Crotty and Kevin Phelan won their heat and finished a close second in the final—just edged out by Fermoy in what many called the race of the day. Donnchadh Slater and Ben Cashman also impressed, finishing fourth overall and showing great promise for next season.
The J18 single sculls saw all four boys—Crotty, Phelan, Cashman, and Slater—take to the water. Crotty reached the final and claimed second, while the others delivered strong performances that bode well for the upcoming Nationals.
Other highlights included Slater and Roche finishing 8th out of 18 in the J16 double, and the J18 coxed quad—Slater, Cashman, Crotty, and Phelan, coxed by Janey Cashman—taking third in a photo-finish thriller.
The Mixed Masters 4+ of Paula Whelan, Mick O’Dwyer, Dave McCarthy, and Amy O’Hanlon, coxed by Janey Cashman, delivered one of the most exciting races of the day. Locked in a bow-ball battle with Fermoy, they were narrowly edged out at the line in a race that had the crowd on its feet.
The Women’s Masters 4+ of Paula Whelan, Ursula Quirke, Anna O’Dwyer, and Talitha Doran, again coxed by Cashman—finished 9th overall, continuing their steady climb in form with every regatta.
With the Irish Rowing Championships just around the corner (July 18–20 at the National Rowing Centre in Cork), Fermoy served as the perfect tune-up. The juniors gained valuable race experience, and the club’s momentum is undeniable.
“A great day of fun for everyone… a fantastic way to wrap up the season for some of our members. Roll on Champs next weekend!” — Amy O’Hanlon, Club Captain
Congratulations to all 18 athletes who represented New Ross with pride and passion. The future of the club—and Irish rowing—looks brighter than ever.