Flogas rows in to support Vartry RC’s 2019 Celtic Challenge
Caption: Dave Conroy, Flogas sales representative (10th from left) with the crews from Vartry RC who will be taking on the 2019 Celtic Challenge, the longest open water rowing race in the world
On Saturday 4th May 2019, in Flogas-branded boats, two crews of 12 rowers each from Vartry Rowing Club in Wicklow, one male and one female, will be taking on the 2019 Celtic Challenge, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest ‘Open Water Rowing Race in the World’. It is a biennial non-stop 78 nautical miles (144.5 km) race from Arklow town in Wicklow to Aberystwyth in Wales. However, when tide and wind adjustments are taken into consideration, the actual distance travelled is considerably longer.
Vartry, who won the Men’s and Overall titles in 2017, is aiming for a clean sweep in 2019 as for the first time, an all-female crew from the club is also taking to the seas to capture the Women’s title. They’ll be up against 17 male and female crews from clubs around Ireland, the UK and Germany.
TV Chef Derry Clarke has been a keen supporter of the club for many years and he and a friend will be once again providing backup support in their boat as they take on the gruelling overnight crossing of the Irish Sea. Each crew is supported by at least one support boat and a safety rib so a flotilla of over 50 boats will be making the crossing this bank holiday weekend.
Vartry is also using the event to raise funds for Cancer Patient Care through the St. Vincent’s Foundation as several of its members know only too well about all the great work of the staff in St. Vincent’s Hospital in caring for their loved ones. Vartry wants to do all that it can to make the work of the Cancer Carers that bit easier so that the lives of the cancer sufferers under their care can be that a little more bearable.
Local Flogas representative Dave Conroy said, “Vartry is a great club that does so much good work fundraising for charities and we’re very happy to support them in this very exciting Challenge. We wish them good luck and fair weather this weekend!”
George O’Brien is the Chairman of Vartry Rowing Club and the main driving force behind the club’s efforts to undertake the Celtic Challenge spoke about the effort that the club’s members have put in to take on this challenge. “The amount of preparations is phenomenal, both our male and female crews have been in training since last October for this one weekend, with hours of practice in the freezing cold and darkness of winter. Nothing has fazed them, and I know they will do us all proud.”
George went on to stress that with the greatest will in the world from his members, they couldn’t take on this massive challenge without the backing of the club’s supporters and sponsors. George said, “I want to thank Flogas for the generous support they given the club since its foundation in 2013 when they helped with the purchase of the club’s first two boats and their ongoing support since then. We’re proud to be associated with a world class brand like Flogas.”
The crews’ progress can be followed @VartryRowingClubWicklow on Facebook/Instagram.