Castleconnell Boat Club Erg their way to Internationals!
There was no skipping leg day this weekend as we proudly welcomed the Castleconnell boat club to the centre for their Ghent Ergathon event!
Castleconnell’s boat club athletes are gearing up to take the International Rowing Competition by storm; how are they going to get there you ask? Two words; Ghent Ergathon. From 9.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday, the dedicated athletes alongside their esteemed coaches put their legs to the test and rowed with the goal to reach 400,000 metres.
Derek Bowen, head coach of the junior girls and with over 35 years of experience, has been involved in the club for the past nine years. "We’re heading to Ghent Belgium for the international regatta in May and with it being a big expense on the families and athletes, we’re here to fundraise towards the travel," says Derek. With five rowing machines and over 100 athletes throughout the day, the sense of community was truly in the air. Castleconnell boat club were also graced with a surprise visit from Professional Rugby player RG Synman, a pro among pros who decided to join in on the quarter of a million metres target!
Founded in 1983, the Castleconnell boat club has been a prime example of hard work, dedication and the embodiment of community. For over 40 years, the Castleconnell Boat Club has been welcoming aspiring athletes to the world of rowing from the ages of 11 and up. With members that feel more like family than just a club, we were honored to witness their team work to row their goal of 400,000 metres this weekend and fundraise for their journey to the international regatta.
As the hours went by and the dozens of athletes pushed beyond the limits to reach their goal, the tally quickly climbed. With the timer ticking and the club’s determination never swaying, the final tally was in; breaking their own goal of 400,000 with an outstanding 493,000 metres!
The finish line is in sight with the International Rowing Competition taking place on the 11th of May and we wish Castleconnell Boat club all the very best. A very big thank you to the club and all who came down to show support on the day with such a tremendous show of community!
