The future of Irish rowing looks bright—and New Ross Boat Club is leading the charge. At the prestigious Rowing Ireland 1k Classic in Lough Rinn, Co. Leitrim, the club’s junior athletes delivered a series of standout performances that turned heads and earned well-deserved victories.
Despite fielding a smaller squad than many of the 46 clubs in attendance, New Ross finished an impressive 20th in the overall club standings, a testament to the quality, grit, and determination of its young rowers.
“We are incredibly proud of our rowers and their achievements at the 1k Classic. It was great to see New Ross represented so well at one of Rowing Ireland’s premier regattas,” Amy O’Hanlon, Club Captain.
The weekend kicked off in spectacular fashion with Katie Nolan and Janey Cashman storming to victory in the Junior Girls 14 double scull. A lightning-fast start and powerful rhythm saw them take control early, and they never looked back—crossing the line with clear water between them and the chasing pack.
Nolan wasn’t done yet. On Sunday, she rowed up an age group in the J15 single scull and delivered another commanding performance. Leading from the first stroke, she extended her advantage in the second half to finish well ahead of her nearest rival from Enniskillen. She also secured a 3rd place finish in the J14 single, capping off a stellar weekend.
The final win came courtesy of Niamh Brennan and Janey Cashman in the J15 double scull. Brennan, fresh off a strong second-place finish in her single, and Cashman, again rowing up an age group, combined for a dominant display. Their high stroke rate and seamless coordination left the competition trailing, securing a third gold for New Ross.
The junior boys also impressed, with Cormac Crotty finishing a strong 4th in the J15 single scull after a thrilling sprint to the line. Meanwhile, Henry Roche and Aogán Slater made their debut in the double scull, showing great promise and narrowly missing out on a top-five finish in a tight race against Bann Rowing Club.
“Janey, Katie, and Niamh performed superbly to combine for three victories. The boys also showed great promise, especially Cormac in his single and Henry and Aogán in their debut double,” Sean Sutton, Chairperson.
New Ross’s Masters rowers also made their presence felt. Stephen Ryan claimed 3rd place in the Men’s Masters single scull, while Ger Morey (bow) and Paula Whelan (stroke) teamed up for a strong 3rd place finish in the Women’s Masters double scull, showing that experience and teamwork are just as vital as raw speed.
With the Irish Rowing Championships just around the corner, the 1k Classic was the perfect proving ground. The young athletes of New Ross Boat Club have shown they’re not just contenders—they’re champions in the making.
“It’s just so great to see the kids enjoying themselves and achieving their goals after putting in so much hard work throughout the year,” – Ger Morey, Coach