Drumshanbo students aim for rowing glory in Cork

The premier event of the schools and university rowing season, the Schools Championship and Universities Championship, takes place in Cork this Saturday, April 13, as two students from Drumshanbo Vocational School aim for glory.

Carrick Rowing Club members Stephen Carty and Dar Hartigan will be flying the colours of Drumshanbo Vocational School at the day-long championships which are being held at the National Rowing Centre in Farran Wood, Iniscarra, Co Cork.

Stephen and Dara will be competing over the 2,000m course in hope of taking home the honours in their respective events. Stephen Carty from Knockvicar, Co. Roscommon will be taking part in the men’s Junior 18 single scull, and Dara Hartigan from Drumshanbo in the men’s Junior 16 single scull, and the two combined have entered a crew for the men’s Junior 18 double scull.

With a huge entry in all three events, success will be hard found, but the two members of Carrick Rowing Club are relishing the bigger challenge and opportunity to participate in the events.

“It’s a challenge, and it won’t be easy won, but Dara and I have been training in the double now for a while, so we hope to be competitive. Apart from that, the single scull will be very hard, there is international standard entered and all we can go down and do is our best and hope to grind out some sort of result. We have put in the training with our coach Kieran and now we just have to go out and do it on the day,” said Stephen.

This year’s competition is the biggest ever and schools and universities from all over the country will be making the long trip down to Cork for this weekend’s action.