Rowing test for Cork clubs

Two west Cork clubs fly the flag for Ireland tomorrow week when they compete at Montpellier, France, in the World Coastal Rowing Challenge.

The Bantry senior men and Castletownshend senior ladies won their respective grades at the 2004 AIB All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships and they now face competitors from a dozen countries.

Neither Irish team has rowed in the type of craft they will compete in, as the fibreglass yawls built by Eurodiffusion, a French boat builder, are being supplied by the French organisers. The competition boats are narrower, slightly longer, twin-oared and faster than the Irish boat.

The Bantry team consists of Liam Young, Luke O’Donovan, Merlin Tanner, Michael Spillane, and cox Majella O’Mahony. The Castletownshend team is Catriona Lane, Mary McCarthy, Eileen Whooley, Lisa Cahalane and cox Declan Crowley.