Alnmouth Community Rowing was proud to represent Northumberland and England at an international 2-day St Ayles Skiff Regatta with crews from Ireland, Scotland and Holland in early August.
Around 20 ACR rowers and support crew headed across the Irish Sea to Strangford Lough to compete in the annual Skiffie-Fest hosted by Down Coastal Rowing Association at Delamont Country Park in Killyleagh, County Down. With 18 clubs, 20 Skiffs and around 1500 rowers in action it made a great spectacle.
After weeks of race training, the ACR crews left Alnmouth with our Skiff, Enflaeda as Storm Antoni’s pending arrival across Ireland and the UK hit the news! Not to be deterred, our hardy teams achieved success in the rain with some members competing in their first ever race event. The highlight ACR performances in challenging weather conditions for some were:
- Over 60s Men achieved 4th place
- Over 50s Women – 6th place
- Over 60s Mixed – 6th place
Socially, it was a great weekend as members caught up with friends made at the World Skiffie Championships in Holland in 2022 and enjoyed the local hospitality. The setting near the Mountains of Mourne was spectacular and we had a chance to do some exploring around the Lough.
The festival included live music and other water sports, whilst Ireland’s signature brew had to be sampled on ‘home soil’. With a gathering each evening to review the day’s events, great fun was had by all.
The ACR crew enjoyed a fantastic weekend in Ireland with many staying on to explore this beautiful area.
You can watch the video to see more detail on the Skiffie-fest 2023 by clicking here .
