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Bann’s magnificent eights win at Portadown. 6th May2008
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History was re-written at Portadown on Saturday when Bann’s magnificent young lions continued to beat the best grammar school crews in the Province by winning both the Dale North Memorial Plate and the Gibson Cup. It was back in 1981 when Bann last won the Gibson Cup for mens junior 16 eights. That winning crew included the legendary Geoffrey Bones at stroke, and the king of the powerhouses, Seamus Reynolds at No. 7.

Club captain Keith Leighton revealed that the ambitious plan of trying to win both the men’s “eights “races at J16 and J18 events at the same regatta had been a huge undertaking for the club. “Their successes in these top events, defeating Portora, Coleraine Inst. and RBAI in the eights, always the blue riband race of all regattas, began long ago with months of seriously hard winter training and the relentless pursuit of technique. It has been an extraordinary achievement for coach Seamus Reynolds and his dedicated rowers.”

Many other notable wins were recorded, and probably the highlight of the veteran rowing season was Geoffrey Bones remarkably winning four golds in four events. The masters single sculls and the masters double sculls titles were added to his victories in both the intermediate and senior sculls. Other commendable performances included Bann’s veteran E four just being pipped by an exceptional Belfast Boat Club crew, and the veteran eight navigating past Lady Victoria in the semifinal but just being defeated on time handicap by BBC in a very close final.

The Ladies crews had a very encouraging victory defeating Methody in the final of the WJ18 quad. by a remarkable margin. This new quad has been very fast in training and carries great hopes for Bann this season. Amy Mitchell recorded her first win in her debut single scull race with a fine row in the semifinal against Portora, and showed great determination against Ireland’s finest Laura D’Urso in the final. Joel Cassells and Chris Black were unlucky not to achieve another brace of winners medals in the MJ14 double sculls when, after a brilliant win over Portora in the semifinals, the final was cancelled due to the very rough conditions.

Top quality racing saw Bann’s same Quad win both the mens intermediate title against hosts Portadown, and then they rowed back up immediately to race a very strong Methody crew in the men’s senior quad final. This appeared a serious challenge for the Bann men but they provided top quality, technical, powerful rowing to win by an amazing three lengths. Considering the race schedule and the quality of the opposition, these were exceptional results for the Bann club. Furthermore two of the winning crew members, the Whoriskey brothers David and Aaron, both weigh under 60kg apiece making them two of the lightest elite rowers in Ireland.

Anyone interested in rowing is encouraged to make contact now with Bann Rowing Club, who were proud to field enthusiastic male and female rowers, of differing standards, aged between thirteen and sixty two, at the 2008 Portadown Regatta.

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