THE community of Ardara and Loughros point are celebrating the success of Patrick Boomer, who took fifth at the World Offshore Rowing Championships in Victoria, Canada, over the weekend.
Representing Loughros Point Rowing Club, Patrick qualified for the world fianls when he won the Irish offshore rowing championships in Kerry last month.
His success generated a lot of excitement in the club which inspired the youth in the club to compete alongside him in the Ulster off shore Championships where, in true Patrick style, he also won gold. The club celebrated further success on that day with the U16 boys team taking silver and the U16 girls taking home bronze.
Patrick set off for Canada last Wednesday with the rest of the Irish competitors and he spent the following day testing the waters and doing some light training.
An experienced river rower boomer was faced with a new challenge in Offshore rowing as he had to navigate his way around seven buoys in a four kilometre course.
Patrick competed against 16 other rowers in the men’s solo heat three on Friday, which was the last heat of the day. Six of these competitors were Irish, from various clubs around the country.
Boomer got off to a great start in his heat where he held third position to the first buoy and finished fourth overall – making the A final.
The final on Saturday was over a six kilometre course and the rowers had to navigate around seven buoys. Patrick got off to a slower start than his heat but pacing himself well he overtook his opposition one by one and on the final 500 meters he went from eigth position to fifth narrowly missing out on fourth by half a second.
Patrick is now ranked fifth fastest offshore rower in the world. This is a huge achievement for Patrick and the Loughros Point club in Ardara.
The Club would like to thank everyone who helped, supported and contributed throughout the year and supported Patrick on his journey to Canada.
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