Celtic challenge rowing race

The Celtic Challenge Rowing Race is a gruelling 90 mile rowing race from Arklow in Ireland to Aberystwyth in Wales. It is classed as the longest sea rowing race in the world. Its a bi-annual event which usually takes place on the first Saturday in May. Crews from Wales, Ireland, England and as far afield as Germany compete in this event. In 2002, 14 crews took part and 2006 sees the largest number of crews ever to enter the race: 17 in all.

The race is open to all 4-oared boats with a cox, no sliding seats or out-riggers are accepted. Normal class entries are Celtic longboat, Pembrokeshire longboat, Irish East Coast skiff, Irish All Ireland class boat and a variety of Thames skiffs. Each crew consists of 12 people, therefore crew changeover strategies are a must for a smooth, competitive crew to succeed. There is a Senior Men's category along with Senior Ladies, Veteran, Mixed and Miscellaneous categories. The Celtic Challenge on 4 May 2002 had favourable weather conditions for all that took part. The overall challenge that year went to the senior men's crew from Arklow Rowing Club, who needed to do their all, even break the course record to manage to beat off the Challenge holders, Aberystwyth senior men, who, after 90 miles and 14 hours and 46 mins, were a marginal 47 seconds behind the Arklow men. These poor crews were up all night sprinting for their pride.

The Challenge was first founded in 1988 when a crew from Aberystwyth Lifeboat rowed from Aberystwyth to Arklow for a fundraising event, taking well over 20 hours to complete the course. Then from 1993 the race started from Arklow ending in Aberystwyth and since then the challenge has taken place in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2002. The 2004 challenge was cancelled due to bad weather.

The last challenge took place on 29 April 2006, leaving from Arklow.

The next challenge will take place around midday on the 4 May 2008, leaving from Arklow. This race will also see the Arklow Ladies become the first ever Irish ladies crew to do the challenge.

External links

*http://www.aberystwyth-rowing.org
*http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2006/04/04/hrowing01.xml#aa
*http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/aberystwyth/pages/celtic_challenge06_photos.shtml