Masters athletes from Portora Boat Club travelled to the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham last weekend brought home an incredible three golds, three silvers and a bronze medal from the British Masters Championships.
After four second places last year, Portora women finally won a well-deserved gold in the over-50s Intermediate double sculls.
Marcella O’Reilly and Helen Flanagan won by a huge margin in slow conditions over the 1,000m six-lane course.
In the last race of the event, a mixed four containing two women, Sonja Cassidy and Laura Wilkin and two men, Chris Allen and Simon Crawford stormed to gold in the over-50s intermediate category. The crew were driven on by cox Rory Farragher against three crews from Monmouth in Wales.
This was Farragher’s second Gold after the Portora over-50s men’s coxed four retained their British title in fine style beating crews from London and Dorset.
A Championship silver medal was a just reward for four Portora women and two men who teamed up with City of Derry and Athlone in an over-60s eight.
Despite no practice, the crew beat crews from Monmouth, Walllingford and London’s Tideway Scullers.
Led by Chris Allen, the Men’s over-50s Championship 8 achieved a fine silver beaten by Manchester’s Agecroft Rowing Club by one second. Once again top cox Farragher drove them on.
Gerry Murphy teamed up with City of Derry to win a further Championship silver medal in the over 65s double sculls. Murphy also managed a bronze medal in the Championship lightweight single sculls to add to his silvers from the eights.
There was a good performance by the women’s quad containing the gold medal partnership alongside Valerie Crawford and Carmel Dane finishing second in the intermediate category.
Club Chairman Valerie Crawford was delighted with the results from the championship: “For Fermanagh Masters Rowers to bring back three golds is astounding. One from the women, one from the men and most fittingly one from a crew of men and women working together.
"There were many people who helped make our success happen. I would like to thank our captains Chrisie Lunny and Shane McGovern as well as coaches Simon Dickie and Sebastian Peeters. They have sacrificed hours and hours every week, we are grateful to each and every one of them.
"Everyone at Portora Boat Club would also like to thank our hosts Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, without their support we simply wouldn’t exist.”
Portora is looking ahead with further racing planned in Ireland and possibly international-level competition abroad over the summer.
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