A group of former rugby and rowing stars have teamed up and smashed the world rowing record for the fastest mixed 100 kilometres by both women and men aged over 40.
The IRFU Charitable Trust Indoor Rowing Team is made up of former players who came together in 2019 in an attempt to raise much needed funds for 36 seriously injured players.
The rowing team have now broken three records in a row, having previously taken the men over 40s 100 kilometres record in March 2019, with an average time of 1 minute 24 seconds for 500-metre pace.
Pic: IRFU Charitable Trust
They followed that up by clinching the 24-hour rowing record where 470 kilometres was covered at an average pace of 1 minute and 30 seconds per 500m.
In total, a star-studded team of 29 rowers took part in the latest record-breaking challenge on Saturday. Skippered by Helen Hannigan, the women’s comprised of Stephanie Corcoran, Susan Doyle, Colleen Farrell, Sive Geoghegan, Eimear Moran, Stephanie O’Kelly, Triona O’Kelly, two-time single scull world champion and Olympian Sanita Puspure, as well as former Grand Slam winner Nora Stapleton.
The men’s team was captained by former Leinster and Ireland star Kevin McLaughlin, and made up of former rugby players and international rowers Scott Barron, Bob Casey, Brian Collins, Ryan Corcoran, Gordon D’Arcy, Paddy Johns, Albert Kehoe, Kenny McDonald, Colin McEntee, Malcolm O’Kelly, Nigel Osborne, Chris Pim, David Quinlan, Stephen Rooney, Michael Swift, Niall Treston, and Wallace brothers David and Paul.
Michelle Murray was also on hand to round up the gang of young rugby and rowing fans from Blackrock College to be footholders: Jack Dolan, John Donnelly, Daniel Ennis, Daniel Larkin, Donnacha Murray, Joseph Norris, and Stephen Wall.
Pic: IRFU Charitable Trust
The event was done in aid of the IRFU Charitable Trust, with all funds raised from this achievement going towards helping seriously injured rugby players live their lives to the fullest.
After clinching the three-in-a-row, a special thanks has been extended well to the support team including team manager Michael Kearney, who is well used to organising teams from his time with the IRFU; as well as Professor Fred Wood, along with the nursing and physiotherapy volunteers who were on hand to ensure all the rugby rowers were very well looked after.
In addition, the rowing team thanked the corporate support received, including Fintan Gavigan from BusinessPlus.ie and DMG Media, Troy Lavin from VitHit, Darren O’Reilly from Wholesupp, and David Popplewell from Heineken; as well as The Blackrock Pub; and the IRFU for the kit.
Michelle Murray has also received thanks for her efforts in rounding up the gang of young rugby and rowing fans from Blackrock College to be footholders: Jack Dolan, John Donnelly, Daniel Ennis, Daniel Larkin, Donnacha Murray, Joseph Norris and Stephen Wall.
Over €17,000 has been raised for this latest achievement and the donation page remains open to help beat the funding target.
Please click here if you would like to make a donation to the IRFU Charitable Trust.
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