Rowing
Rowing in Methody has a dedicated following, with both boys and girls taking part in this popular sport. A new boathouse was opened in 2005 and fundraising activities coupled with financial support from former pupils and parents have allowed the purchase of equipment and boats.
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MCB crew having shot Ormeau bridge and opened a gap on opposition
MCB Rowing Club 2011
Scull-duggery on the Lagan: Episode One
by
Staff Member Mrs N. Grant-Stevenson
There isn’t – unfortunately – a book called “Rowing for Dummies” so I’ve had to rely on a LOT of people to make it this far at MCBRC!!
This year, I have had the good fortune to be working with 4th Form girls at the boat house and have been well and truly bitten by the rowing bug, so I thought I would write a regular account of what our fantastic rowers have been up to and what I’ve learned along the way.
So, what have I learned? (do you know the answers to some of these questions? If not – ask a rower!)
- The difference between a Macon blade and a big blade (or even what a blade is?)
- The difference between a quad and a four, a double and a pair, etc. (this is also the difference between rowing and sculling!)
- What side of the river to row on
- How to lift and carry a boat
- That no one is going to do it for you – but that teamwork can achieve almost anything, and rowers are great at teamwork (as well as being very polite!)
- That the rowing coaches and parents are a fabulously warm-hearted, welcoming and helpful bunch of people!
- That rain is really, really wet…but that skin is surprisingly waterproof!
- That I’ve still got a lot to learn….
Below is a quick run down of some of the rowing successes so far this year:
Portadown Marascull – 8th October
2 quads (that’s four people in a boat, each with two oars) entered in the Womens J18 category.
Quad A – Sophie Murphy, Maria Gregson, Jasmine English and Samantha Gallaher – won the WJ18 category and had the fastest race time overall in this 16km test of endurance and strength.
Quad B – Julia Boyle, OrlaMacIntyre, Hayley Close and Marie-Jo Camara – came second in the WJ18 category and achieved the 3rd fastest race time overall.
Lagan Mini-Head – 15th October
A Head (or Head of the River Race, to give it its full title) is where each crew or rower is timed over the length of the course, rather than racing each other directly in lanes as you may have seen at the Olympics etc.
This race was over 5km (from the Odyssey to just past MCB boathouse) and MCB entered an eight (that’s eight people with one oar each!) in the Womens J18 category. The crew of Maria Gregson, Samantha Gallaher, Jasmine English, Hayley Close, Rosie Kelly, Julia Boyle, OrlaMacIntyre and Marie-Jo Camara won their category, and were also the fastest women’s crew on the river.
In the next episode, the boys’ results from the above races, plus reports on the Lagan Scullers Club mini-head and the MCB / QUB novice challenge…with some really big medals!
What are these medals for? Find out next time...
Rowing News - May 2011
Congratulations to MCB Rowing Club members recently selected for the Irish Junior International Rowing Team to participate in the Home International Regatta in StrathclydePark in Glasgow in July.
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Pictured, after a training session at the club, are Club Captain Simon Hewitt, Patrick Boomer and Zoe Gray, along with Mr Thompson. Simon and Patrick will row in the Under 18 VIII and IV, while Zoe will be the cox of the Girls Under 18 VIII.
MCB Rowing Club 2010
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Rowers who took part in the Ghent Regatta 2010
Please click here to read about the Rowing Club's successes in the 2010 season.
MCB Rowing Club 2009
Click here to read Rhianna Craig's report for Girls Rowing: March-October 2009