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Great Open Day for Moville's Rowing Club

Posted Monday, September 22, 2008

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Rowing Club

It is only the second year for Moville Rowing Club but what a success they are making of it.

They have already attracted around 40 members with a decent portion of them being children.

They held an Open Day on Saturday just past and invited other Rowing Clubs from Teelin, Culmore Point and Bunbeg to come up and take part in their rowing races.

It all took place at the Old Pier and the boats were launched from the slipway.

Good Weather

They were quite wise and chose September for it knowing that in recent years that May and September have been the months for a bit of good, sunny weather and they chose correctly.

For the day they had managed to get the Anchor / Hair of the Dog pub re-opened, although only for sandwiches, teas and coffees and the making of burgers etc.

I suppose that was a bit of insurance in case it was a bit wet but they needn't have worried.

It was great to go in and look inside again.

Food

They also had an outside canopy where they served sandwiches and tea and coffee.

At regular Intervals helpers came out of the Anchor with plates full of cheeseburgers and plain burgers ably cooked by Seamus Bovaird (jnr).

Seamus joined the Rowing Club, he tells me, to prepare for his coming trek across Cuba for the charity Children in Crossfire.

He will be walking 15 miles a day.

That would be from Moville to Stroove and back again and then back to Greencastle again it was pointed out to him.

It seems he has been in practice though.

At The Races

The races took place in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.

Local Councillor Marian McDonald was down to see it all.

Bucking Bronco

In the evening the Moville Rowing Club had organised a mechanical Bucking Bronco in Caiseal Mara function room.

Tickets had been selling well in the town beforehand.

It seems that it is the first time that one of those Bucking Broncos had come to Moville, although some residents had had shots on them elsewhere.

Afterwards there was to be a dance with music by Gael Force 10.

Prizegiving

First of all the prizegiving took place in the Caiseal Mara and then the children were allowed to queue up for a go on the Bucking Bronco.

Then the women were to be given a shot.

I had been commandeered into doing the commentary for it at late notice and was given a list of those who had volunteered for it.

I was never quite sure whether everyone had volunteered or had been volunteered.

The Bucking Senator

Certainly Cecilia Keaveney seemed a bit surprised when I announced she was first up.

However, she got up gamely to give it a go.

I couldn't see Brian Cowan or Peter Robinson doing that.

She even smiled when I said it looked as if she was trying all she could to hang onto her seat.

She managed a reasonable go of it before she was thrown off.

I thought it would be better to get a picture of her at the start rather than one as she flew threw the air.

Leading Women

Gillian from the Coolie Stables was winning the women's section managing to stay on the Bull for 112 seconds until Sarah Faulkner stepped up with an astonishing 129 seconds.

I think one or two of the girls had wished they had worn more sensible T Shirts and dresses as the bull got faster and faster but there were no costume malfunctions.

Men's

Next up was the men's section.

That was fairly entertaining.

The winner was Francis Hegarty from Teelin with 134 seconds on the Bucking Bronco.

That easily beat the best of the women.

Before that the women had been 1st and 3rd overall but Francis's attempt took him into the overall lead as well.

Ride Out

A challenge was then thrown out by Sarah that she wanted to take on the men's champion in a ride-out.

Francis went first and managed an extra 13 seconds at 147 seconds.

Sarah took her turn and seemed to be on the way to victory when she came flying off at around her previous time.

There was much mirth and laughter as some of Moville's best known citizens were bucked to and forth and were eventually sent flying through the air.

After that the band Gael Force 10 played into the night as the crowd numbers swelled and the rowing club members, guests and anyone who bought tickets danced away the night.

Well Organised

I must say it was very well organised and was one of the best events I've been to in Moville this year.

It looked like the Rowing Club had made a goodly amount of money too as the biscuit tin at the entrance was full of tickets and cash.

They deserved it after the show they put on.