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Huge success for Moville Regatta in its 129th year

Posted Friday, August 15, 2008

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Moville Regatta

There was a hugely successful Regatta in Moville this year with spectators well up on previous years, in spite of very mixed weather, especially on the Sunday.

A full programme of events took place with nine sailing races and a great display of exceptional rowing from young and not so young, both male and female.

It is particularly rewarding to see so many young people back on the water at various sports.

Canoe Activities

Great interest was shown in all the canoe activities.

They were professionally coached and managed by Adrian Harkin and his helpers.

Young people in particular showed great interest in various canoe games and races.

Sailing

On the Saturday, the sailing got under way with dinghy racing, where Ken Louden proved too strong for the rest of the field on this occasion.

The cruisers were in full swing in the afternoon and Bill McCann came out on top in both races.

The weather on Sunday proved a disappointment (but not the turnout), with lots of rain but, worse still, virtually no wind.

Dronheim

One of two Dronheim races was held and Joe Lynch managed to somehow get across the finishing line in what turned out to be a drifting manner at times.

The second race was called off.

The cruisers also had a lot of difficulty in completing the course but, after about three hours, John O'Kane came through first.

Monday

The Monday proved a lot better day for sailing and seven Foyle Punts were a joy to see in full sail.

John McGuinness was in good form and won two races with the very steady Roy Louden being victorious in the second race.

Daniel Gallagher was also going well in his new punt and came very close in the first race.

Presentation

The day was rounded off by a presentation of prizes at a buffet in the Caiseal Mara Hotel.

A very nostalgic CD was played during the event and John Baird, the well-renowned marine artist exhibited a wonderful display of local boats and local scenes.

Special Thanks

Special thanks go out to all who helped make a wonderful and highly successful regatta played out in front of record crowds.

Thanks go out to Centra and Gillens for supplying sandwiches, to Michael Aide for supplying the plaques for the prizegiving, to the Loughs Agency, Harbour Board, Patsy McLaughlin, Liam Hargan for rescue vessels and to Foyle Fresh Seafoods for the Flagship and Committee boat.

Special Thanks

A very special thanks goes to Councillor Marian McDonald who allocated one thousand Euros from her Members Allocation Fund to the Regatta.

This is very good news for the Committee as it costs a lot of money to stage the Regatta.

The winner of the draw for €500 was Tim Close from Ballybrack, Moville.

After the huge success of this year's Regatta we are all hoping and expecting that the 130th anniversary of the first Moville Regatta can be even bigger and better than this year's spectacularly successful Regatta.

See the next article down for the full results.