Galway rowing clubs prepare for the first main domestic event, the Limerick Regatta, which takes place this weekend, while another group of local rowers has been busy in readiness for international competition.
Claregalway's Siobhan McCrohan, Nall Kenny from Menlo, and Lisa Dilleen from Newcastle are among a small group of the country's top rowers hoping to carry the Irish banner into competition in Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia. Their first event is the Essen International Regatta in Germany in two weeks.
Tribesmen Rowing Club’s McCohan and Dilleen are now ranked one and two in the women’s division, while Kenny, from the NUIG club, is the number three male oarsman.
The three oarsmen have enjoyed considerable success over the past year. Dilleen had a barnstorming appearance at Munich International and the British Schools as a junior before producing a respectable showing at the World u-23 regatta, while Kenny was part of an Irish quad scull which captured a silver medal at those championships. McCrohan, just over age for u-23, made her mark at the senior ranks, and with partner Claire Lamb from UCD, she surprised the established order when reaching the A final at a World Cup event at first time of asking. McCrohan followed up with a repeat performance at the Lucerne Regatta in the single sculls before the pair took fourth place at the European championships in Portugal.
All three athletes have moved to Cork to be close to the National Rowing Centre at Farran.While Dilleen is studying in CIT, both McCrohan and Kenny are are full time training. The Essen International Regatta in Germany will be their first test this year with all three hoping for selection for the World Championships in Slovenia in August.
