Cork Boat Club make history at National Rowing Championships

Claire Feerick of Neptune won the women's single sculls title while Ronan Byrne of UCC claimed the men's title. 

Cork boat club celebrate winning the men's senior eight at the 2024 Irish National Rowing Championships. Picture: Rowing Ireland / Instagram

In the final race of the weekend at the National Rowing Championships, held at Inniscarra Lake, Cork Boat Club made history by winning the men's senior eight for the first time.

Cork started fast, leading by half a length at the 1000m mark. They maintained that advantage to the end, beating a UCD boat which had been aiming to win a fifth consecutive title for their club. Commercial Rowing Club came in third. Cork had finished second to UCD at the previous two championships. It sealed a memorable weekend for Cork, who had already claimed the men's pairs and fours titles.

A combined crew from UL and Shannon triumphed in the women’s senior eight. They led at the halfway point, and built a healthy advantage going into the final quarter, eventually holding on to beat a fast finishing combination from the University of Galway and the Tribesmen Rowing Club by just under two seconds. UCC finished a further eight seconds back in third.

Claire Feerick from Neptune Rowing Club showcased her strength and skill, securing a commanding three second victory in the women's senior single sculls. The Castleknock rower, a silver medallist at the 2019 U23 World Championships, took the lead at the 500m mark and did not relinquish it as she beat Aisling Hayes of Skibbereen in second and Holly Davis of Lee Valley in third.

Like in the women's race, UCC's Ronan Byrne took the lead early in the men's singles final and was not caught. It was a remarkably powerful performance from Byrne who won by 5.6 seconds from Skibbereen's Jack McCarthy in second. McCarthy, brother of Olympic gold medallist Fintan, had won the lightweight men's single sculls on Friday. Kealan Mannix, rowing for UL, was a further 1.7 seconds back in third. 

Byrne, who hails from Ballinlough in Cork, crewed the men's double alongside Phillip Doyle at the Tokyo Olympics. He and Doyle won a silver medal in the double at the 2019 World Championships. 

The championships were held across three days over the weekend, featuring 916 crews and 51 clubs.