Kelly targets Atlantic test

ROWING:IN 1987 Tom McClean set one of the great records. He rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to England in 55 days. That mark stands unbroken.

McClean’s parents were from Laois, but he was brought up in England where he joined the SAS. In recent years he’s run an adventure centre in Scotland. “I’m an Irishman, sounding like an Englishman, living in Scotland! My mother, my father, my aunts and my uncles – every single person in my family going back generations is Irish,” he told The Irish Times last year.

Ocean rowing has been a sport where competitors from this island have been to the fore.

Earlier this year Rob Byrne from Bray and Adam Burke from Skerries became world record holders as part of the fastest crew to cross the Atlantic east-west.

The boat which set such a terrific mark was the Sara G, and the captain who drove it on was Matt Craughwell. In January both will reunite in an attempt to set a record in ocean rowing – breaking 30 days for rowing across the Atlantic. And the Irishman who was chosen early on to be part of the six-man crew on this adventure is 26-year-old Aodhan Kelly from Palmerstown in Dublin.

The preparations for the 2005 Woodvale Atlantic Race, in which Gearóid Towey and Ciarán Lewis competed – and were lucky to escape alive after a capsize – sparked the interest of the young Neptune oarsman in the sport.

“I had never heard of it before Gearóid (Towey) and Ciarán Lewis tried it in 2005. I was just going to training one day and Gearóid was standing in the car park with a big, monstrous boat I didn’t recognise! That was the first time I had heard of Ocean Rowing. Then I kind of got the bug for it and I thought, ‘this is something I need to do’.”

He had won seven national junior titles and one intermediate title with Neptune, but as study and work moved centre stage and hopes of making the Ireland senior rowing team receded, he began to see this as one big challenge he wanted to embrace. Earlier this year, hopefuls from around the world pitched up on the English coast to try to land a place in Craughwell’s plans.

The monthly trials involved spending 24 hours at sea with two hours rowing alternating with two hours rest. Some failed painfully. Kelly’s trial was taken in extremely rough seas, but the Dubliner got the nod from Craughwell.

Right now, Kelly’s big challenge is to raise the funds – over €11,700 – for the test. Supporters have organised a race-night tomorrow in Neptune, and Kelly will return from England where he works.

Tomorrow features the Bann Head of the River, with a strong representation from Ulster clubs, including Queen’s University, who are seeking a coach to replace the departing Mark Fangen Hall.

On Sunday, the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships at the Sports Centre in Trinity College, Dublin, have a big representation from the host college and UCD, and a number of schools.

Dave Neale from UCD and Eamonn Joyce from Cork Boat Club may figure strongly.