Another early morning trip for Inver Colpa Rowing Club last weekend has once again resulted in them bringing home the goods, this time at the 15km “Row the Rock” race from Skerries South Strand to Rockabill Lighthouse and back, with a beach sprint at the start and end.  

The race starts with one rower from each boat positioned at the start line on the beach, while the others wait patiently in their boats on the sea for the sound of the start whistle, at which time the rower on the beach sprints down, runs into the water, jumps into the boat and starts rowing with their crew as quickly as possible!

After a gruelling 15km sea row, the race ends in a similar way, with the chosen rower jumping out of the boat and running back up to the same position on the beach - not an easy feat when your legs feel like jelly!

Two Inver Colpa crews took part in the race at the weekend, facing tough conditions as they rowed out and around Rockabill Lighthouse, which is an active 19th century lighthouse, on the larger of the two islands that form Rockabill. Famous for its Roseate Terns, since 1989, BirdWatch Ireland have been working to conserve and protect these birds on Rockabill Island – their largest European breeding colony. 

Inver Colpa’s crew of James McKeviit, Tom Scanlon, Fiona Kelly, Darragh Farrell and Cox Gerry Hodgins were the fastest overall boat in the One Design category and brought home a lovely glass trophy for the cabinet.  Well done also to the club's other crew of Saoirse Mallon, Orla O’Connor, Glenda Murphy, Claire Corcoran and cox Martin Murphy on a well-rowed race.  

It has been a busy few weeks for the club as they have also just returned from the All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships in Dingle at the end of August.  A great experience for all who attended, unfortunately no medals were brought home from the Kingdom, but lots of learnings took place that can be acted upon for 2025, when the All Irelands will take place up North in Glenarm, Co. Antrim.