St. Michael’s rowing club is bringing masters regatta racing back to the city centre.

St Michael’s rowing club will be bringing Regatta racing back to the city centre on Saturday August 26th for their first ever Masters Regatta. Crews from all over Ireland as well as some from the UK will take part in the event that begins at 7:00pm and runs until 9:30pm. The World Masters Rowing Championships take place in Bled, Slovakia in September and many of the crews coming to this inaugural event are preparing for them.

Masters rowing is for anyone over the age of 28 and categories are decided by the average age of the group. In this regatta younger crews will be given time delays with the older crews starting first.

Over the course of the new regatta, there will be 12 finals on show in 8’s, 4’s, double sculls and single sculls for both men and women. On paper, the most anticipated race will be in the 8’s.

There will be seven crews in the masters race from Castleconnell, Muckross, Old Collegians and composite crews from Fermoy, Shandon, Neptune, Galway, Commercial, Lee Valley and St. Michael’s. There will be six 8’s racing down the Shannon towards the city which is sure to look excellent.

“The Monty Cup” which will be given to the winner of the Open 8’s race is in it’s first year and is a memorial for St Michaels former club captain Jim “Monty” Ahern who unfortunately passed away in 2016. He was a well respected member of the club and a master oarsman.

Brain Richardson, who is Regatta chairman is delighted about the inaugural event

“It’s fantastic to see the increase in Masters Rowing in Ireland over the past few years. St Michaels are delighted to be hosting this event in the heart of Limerick City. Our state of the art facilities, including the new floating pontoon, greatly aids our ability to hold such a major sporting event. The racing will finish just in front of Shannon Bridge so it will make for great viewing for the public from the bridge, Steamboat Quay or from St. Michael’s Rowing Club. A great way to spend a Saturday evening in the city. The presentation of the Monty Cup will be a very proud moment for the club as we celebrate Jim’s life. It’s a touching tribute from Jim’s former crewmen. I’ve them warned that the Monty Cup needs to be won by St. Mick’s or there’ll be hell to pay!”.

Tom Larkin, who is president of St Michaels rowing club is also excited about the new event and is delighted there is a regatta back in Limerick City after

 “ It’s been many years since there has been a competitive regatta in the heart of the city and this is a great opportunity for St. Michael’s to showcase to the people of Limerick the excitement of racing and also capitalise on the recent international success and exposure that rowing in Ireland has achieved through the O’Donovan brothers from last year’s Olympics, along with our own Sinead Lynch from St. Michael’s who competed in the Olympic final of the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls. With over 15 clubs from around Ireland and the UK in attendance, it promises to be a great evening of racing and we would encourage and welcome people to come and view the racing from one of many of the great vantage points, including our own club”.