We are now taking bookings for our 2013 Learn to Row Camp which will run from Monday 29th July to Friday 2nd August.   The camp is targetted at 11, 12 and 13 year old boys and girls who have had little or no previous experience of rowing.     All participants must be able to swim.

The camp will run at Shandon Boat Club on the Marina, Cork for three hours daily (either 10.00am to 1.00pm or 2.00pm to 5.00pm) and will cost €75 per participant.

Participants will be tought how to row in racing boats in a safe and fun orientated environment.   Those that wish to continue with the sport after the camp will be offered an opportunity to apply for membership of Shandon Boat Club.

Based on the last few years we expect the camp to be over-subscribed so early booking is advised.      Anyone interested in finding out more or in making a booking should email Frank Coghlan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Please spread the word as widely as you can - through work, school or social outlets etc.  

Following the first Grand League regatta organised by Queen's Universtiy Belfast Rowing Club at Castlewellan, Co Down the Shandon Boat Club placings in the Overall League and in the four Grand League Divisions are as follows:

Overall Grand League:    7th place out of 32 placings

Men's Divison One:         2nd place out of 20

Women's Divison One:    6th place out of 13

Men's Divison Two:         No points

Women's Division Two:   15th place out of 17

The cancellation of Skibbereen Regatta (one of our two "home" regattas) due to weather conditions is a disadvantage to Shandon and other Cork based clubs but we are still strongly positioned to due well particularly in the Men's Divison One category.

The next Grand League event is Dublin Metropolitian Regatta on Saturday 25th May at which we expect to have a strong entry in both Division One categories.    

At a very pleasant presentation ceremony in Cork Constitution recently, Andy Harrington of Shandon was presented with the trophy as overall winner of the 41st Cork Sculling Ladder.    Andy was only the 5th Shandon winner in the history of the event and the whole club would like to offer him congratulations on his achievement.   A well as winning the overall category, Andy also won the Men's Intermediate and Men's J18 categories. 

Congratulations also to Saoise Horgan who won the Women's J18 and Women's Intermediate events and to Henrik Merz and Brian O'Keeffe who won their individual Master's categories.

The club took 43 young rowers to participate in Wallingford Regatta on Dorney Lake in England over the May bank holiday weekend.   It was an experience!!    

First the bad news.    The jeep broke down.    Everyone had to get up at 5 in the morning on racing day.   Everyone was knackered.   We had no wins.    The food was not great - so Tom said.    Neither was the accomodation - Tom said that too.     And the snoring!!

And the good news.     We got the boats to Dorney Lake - thanks to Peter Ogden who drove 3 hours from London to pick them up and 3 hours back again to Dorney.     We got the boats home to Shandon - Peter again.     We got the jeep home (eventually) - thanks to Henrik Merz and his amazing contacts.    Everyone enjoyed themselves (creid nó ná creid) - thanks to Tom, George, Henrik, John, Clodagh and Ulrike.      And that's what it was all about folks! 

And the learnings.      Next year we will probably go abroad again but go earlier and take fewer.      We will have a big camp for everyone else "at home" in Killarney, Galway, Belfast, wherever.     (Note to self - KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid!).

Following the final international trial for selecting the various 2013 Irish International junior squads we were delighted to learn that two Shandon members were selected for the Junior World Rowing Championships in Lithuania.    Jack Casey and Andy Harrington will represent Ireland in the Junior Men's Double Scull.     This is a big honour for Jack and Andy and indeed for Shandon Boat Club.    It is 16 years since two Shandon Juniors, Claire Rose and Jane O'Connell, last represented Ireland in the World Junior Championships.

We wish Jack and Andy every success in representing Ireland in this, the premier world-wide annual event for Junior rowers.

Final selections for the Coupe de la Jeunesse (i.e. the European Junior Championships) and the Home International Championships have yet to be made and a number of Shandon members remain in the running for selection.