The WJ18 4x of Róisin Byrne, Lyla Kane Walsh, Emily Byrne and Aisling Walsh from Tullamore Rowing Club won a thrilling final at the recent Regattas at Neptune and Commercial Boat Clubs in Dublin's Islandbridge.

Mixed fortunes for 25 Offaly rowers at recent Regattas

A large contingent of 25 athletes from Offaly Rowing Club travelled to the recent Regattas at Neptune and Commercial Boat Clubs at Islandbridge in Dublin.

On Saturday, Male Masters John Ward and Conor Gilsenan were first up for Offaly in the singles events, and progressed to the next round where they were defeated by stiff opposition.

In the WJ18 1x event, Isobel McAuliffe started well, but misjudged the bend in the river and lost her advantage.

In the MJ15 4x, John Twomey, JP Larkin, Oran Sampson and Kevin McDonald rowed well in their first competitive outing coming a close second to a crew from Commercial on their home stretch of water.

The MJ16 4x of JJ Finlay, Ben Ward, Louis Dollard and Shane McLachlan, coxed by Anna Walsh put in a strong display and qualified for the semi final, where they lost to a strong Commercial crew.

The WJ14 crew of Anna Walsh, Tess Flynn, Ealga McAuliffe, Cíara Chambers and cox Katelyn Taylor got through to the final, where they lost to a crew from Neptune.

The W15 2x of Bláitnín Clarke and Nicole Duke rowed excellently to qualify for the final, where after a restart, they lost narrowly to Fermoy.

Finn Bagnall-Condron, competing in the MJ16 1x rowed well to make it to the 1/4 final, where he was narrowly defeated by a Tralee sculler.

Katelyn Taylor kindly rowed in the WJ14 4x for Graigenamanagh, who were short a crew member, but the crew didn't progress to the final.

The WJ18 4x of Lyla Kane Walsh, Emily Byrne, Aisling Walsh and Róisin Byrne progressed through a tough series of heats to beat Commercial in an thrilling final in a photo finish.

Adele O'Dwyer rowed well in the Female Masters single event, and qualified for her final, where she was narrowly defeated by a Neptune sculler.

On Sunday, some of the events were organised as a series of time trials, with the fastest qualifying for the finals. Male masters, John Ward and Conor Gilsenan rowed in the M C 1x event. Both progressed to the second round, but were defeated in the knockout stages.

The first pair on the water for Offaly in the MJ15 2x were John Twomey and Oran Sampson who lost to an experienced Commercial crew. They were followed by the WJ14 4x of Anna Walsh, Ealga McAuliffe, Cíara Chambers and Katelyn Taylor, coxed by Lyla Kane Walsh, who were narrowly beaten by close neighbours, Athlone. The WJ18 4x of Lyla Kane Walsh, Emily Byrne, Aisling Walsh and Róisin Byrne progressed to the semifinal. Aisling Walsh was unable to compete in the semi, and her seat was filled by Ealga McAuliffe, but unfortunately they lost to a stronger Commercial crew.

Next up for Offaly were the MJ16 4x of JJ Finlay, Ben Ward, Louis Dollard and Shane McLachlan, coxed by Isobel McAuliffe. They were narrowly defeated by the eventual winners, St. Michaels of Limerick.

Katelyn Taylor and Ealga McAuliffe won their WJ14 2x final, comprehensively beating the Carrick-on-Shannon pair.

A delighted Katelyn Taylor and Ealga McAuliffe won their WJ14 2x final, comprehensively beating the Carrick-on-Shannon pair. However, the WJ14 duo of Cíara Chambers and Anna Walsh narrowly lost their final to Waterford.

Recent recruits Oran Sampson, John Twomey, John McDonald and JP Larkin racing in MJ15 4x, and coxed by Lyla Kane Walsh, were narrowly beaten by Neptune.

MJ16 2x of Shane McLachlan and Ben Ward came in second to Waterford, and the club's second MJ16 2x of JJ Finlay and Louis Dollard lost narrowly to a Neptune crew.

Nicole Duke and Ealga McAuliffe easily beat a Commercial crew in the WJ15 2x event.

Nicole Duke and Ealga McAuliffe easily beat a Commercial crew on their home stretch of water in the WJ15 2x event.

In the WJ18 2x, Róisín Byrne and Isobel McAuliffe progressed to their final, but lost out to a very fast crew from Shannon.

Finally, Mary Hussey, competing in a composite crew with Anna Liffey brought home gold in the Women's Masters event.

Offaly Rowing Club offers a trial membership for those interested in trying the sport of rowing- both juniors and adults. Contact the club on Facebook, or email the secretary at secretary.offalyrowingclub@gmail.com for details.