SATURDAY'S wet weather caused the cancellation of a
number of sports events across Inishowen, but one
group of intrepid athletes was praying for more
rain. More than 100 canoeists took part in the
inaugural Crana Canoe weekend and found the wet
conditions very much to their liking.
“To be honest, we were panicking a wee bit on
Saturday morning that we weren’t going to have
enough water, but we were more than happy with
conditions as the weekend progressed,” said Adrian
Harkin, one of the main organisers of the event.
“The weather may have been disappointing for
spectators, but what wasn’t good for them was great
for the competitors.”
Council engineers also released water from the
Fullerton Pollan Dam to help create a spectacular
white water course along the lower reaches of the
Crana River at Swan’s Park.
“We had competitors from all over Ireland and they
told us that the Crana has the potential to become
an international standard course,” Harkin continued,
adding that plans are in place to stage it again on
the October Bank Holiday weekend in 2010. “We have
the potential to make this event much bigger and
better. With the proper support and planning, this
could become an absolutely massive event within five
years.”
“This has the potential
to bring lots of visitors to Buncrana going
forward,” Harkin said. “We expect interest from
paddlers from England and Scotland next year.”
Adverse weather conditions meant organisers had to
change the route of Saturday’s sea kayak race on
Lough Swilly. “We needed to follow a more sheltered
route, but the race passed off without incident,” he
said.
Local paddlers did particular well in the junior
slalom categories. Malin’s Ronan O’Neill finished
third in the U16 race, Moville duo Richard McDermott
and Kevin Foynes took first and second respectively
in the U14 race, while Moville’s Adam Quigg took
third in the U12 race. But pride of place went to
ten year-old Jessica Harkin who won the girl’s U12
race, covering the course faster than everyone up to
the age of 16 - boys and girls.
Jessica has had a little help – her father Adrian is
the instructor with Just Kayak in Moville.
“We’re very thankful to all the support we got from
the local anglers, Buncrana Youth Club, Paudge
Dorrian, Donegal County Council, Buncrana Town
Council and the Lake of Shadows where the
hospitality was great all weekend,” Harkin said.
Footage from the weekend may be viewed above. And if you’re
interested in getting involved next year, you can
get lesson with Just Kayak in Moville. Contact
Adrian Harkin on 087 2202577.
