Dundrum are rowing champions of the world

Dundrum are rowing champions of the world

3 August 2016

IT was a world-class rowing event and Dundrum Coastal Rowing Club blew the competition out of the water.

In a shock win at the Skiffie World Championship, the village crew and it’s ‘Danny Buoy’ won out against 50 skiffs and 1000 international participants from the Netherlands, Tasmania, USA, Scotland, Wales and Ireland to clinch the title.

Thousands lined the shores of Strangford Lough last week to watch some of the world’s top skiff rowers in action and enjoy the festival atmosphere with events such as children’s skiffie inspired art workshops, street theatre, craft exhibitions and artisan food fayre.

Strangford Lough was selected by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association for this year’s competition not only because of its stunning natural beauty but also because of the success of the local community boat builds.

To date nine traditionally styled St Ayles skiffs have been built in communities along the County Down coast from Dundrum to Donaghadee, supported by Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership, the PSNI, and local councils as part of the EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. 

The boat build has brought together people from different walks of life for the building of the boats, with rowing also becoming a serious past-time for many locals who had never tried the sport before.

Carol McMenamin is one of the Dundrum Coastal Rowing Club members still celebrating.

“It is a bit of a shock,” she said. “We were saying it was a pity the event was not next year because really we weren’t ready. I could not believe we then won.

“There had been a few locally based regattas in Portaferry and Strangford but we were amazed to do so well. I took part in the Women Over 50s and Mixed Over 50s and got gold medals in both.”

Carol explained that she had only been rowing for six months.

“I thought I would give it a go and now I am absolutely hooked on it,” she said.

“We trained in Murlough and at Castlewellan. I absolutely love everything training and we were probably doing it two or three times a week as the Worlds came up. We were pretty much flat out.

“I have been a runner but it is a completely different work out. It is a full body work out. People think it is just your arms, but it is your core your back, your legs.

“We now hope to build on our junior offering.”

Member Andy Boyd is also thrilled. He said: “The big Scottish clubs were going  —who are these Dundrum guys? They were well marketed, had some nice marquees, very well coordinated. We had a wee black marquee lent to us by Murlough Athletic Club.

“There was no expectation of us, but suddenly we realised — we are in this.

“We just built momentum, although did not have a great final day.

“We only won by a point, it was close. It was just brilliant. Unbelievable.”

Andy’s family background has been “on the water” and he was a trawler man for 11 years. He only took up coastal rowing seriously, however, in March. Soon they were seeking advice on the best rowing techniques.

“You could not give credit enough to Stephen Armstrong and Robert Graham and Michael McGlennon did a lot of work,” Andy added.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council chairwoman, councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick, spoke of her delight at the success of the competition.

“This is very significant event and the council are very proud to work with the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association and our neighbouring council in Ards and North Down as well as Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership to bring this to fruition,” she said. “It is fantastic to see so many visitors coming to explore and enjoy our region this week and the feedback has been very positive.”

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie also offered her congratulations to the Dundrum Coastal Rowing Club.

“A great effort was made by the Dundrum club to become the gold medal winners only after just two years of having built their skiff and trained in Dundrum Bay,” she said. “This is a tremendous achievement as competitors from Canada, England, New Zealand, the USA, and Wales all took part, which brought a truly international flavour to this event.

“This is an excellent start for the Dundrum club and I hope they will continue to build on their success at future events.”