Islandmagee Challenge

The Whitehead and Islandmagee coastline will be alive with activity this weekend as Whitehead Coastal Rowing Club (WCRC) hosts its first major event since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year. 

A number of rowing clubs from Co Down are joining Whitehead rowers on Saturday (August 14th) for the ‘Islandmagee Challenge’ which will see competitors digging their oars in to race for the best time in completing a 10-mile route from Browns Bay to Whitehead. WCRC Head Coach, Jason Greenwood, estimates that the 10 mile endurance test will take from 1.5 to 2 hours for the competitors to reach Whitehead.

Supporters and onlookers will be treated to a sea spectacle as more than 60 competitors push the boat out to row the scenic route from Browns Bay through Portmuck Sound, past The Gobbins, Blackhead Lighthouse and into Whitehead Bay.  

Oars will go up at 1pm with three highly trained and experienced crews from Whitehead Coastal Rowing Club competing for victory against eight visiting crews from Sketrick, Ardglass, Dundrum, Strangford and Killyleagh. The Co Down clubs will be rowing in St Ayle's Skiffs (Scottish traditional design) while the WCRC crews will be in One Design Yawls (Irish boat). 

However, the fun does not stop at the finishing line… as volunteers from WCRC will be putting on a veritable feast for supporters and rowers alike from 1pm onwards when an array of freshly baked traybakes will be available, alongside tea and coffee, for a small donation.  

And for those who have worked up an appetite through rowing or cheering on, WCRC volunteers will be flipping burgers (and vegetarian options) at a barbecue in the patio area of the Whitecliff Inn from 3pm.  

Lenny Entwistle, Chairman of WCRC, said: “It is fantastic that the Islandmagee Challenge is taking place on Saturday and that there’s so much support and interest from other clubs too.  

“We’ve been training hard under our Head Coach Jason Greenwood who has been putting our crews through their paces on the sea and on dry land! He has coached and developed members from being non-rowers to competent crew in just two years.  

“The excitement is building among our members who have volunteered in many ways to make Saturday’s event a day to remember. From our talented bakers who will ‘Bake Off’ a vast array of goodies to those who have volunteered to marshal, undertake race control and spotters to report route progress, right through to our BBQ Kings and Queens and everyone else who is helping out, I would like to extend my sincere thanks. The team spirit in our club is absolutely amazing.   

“Thanks must also go to local clubs and business who are supporting our event including Irish Salt Mining & Exploration Company (ISME), Whitehead Rangers Supporters’ Club for allowing us to use their premises for race control, the Whitecliff Inn for use of their outdoor space for our barbecue, Cleaver & Steel Butchers in Ballycarry & McKees bakery in Whitehead for helping us with barbecue food.  We wouldn’t be able to run the challenge without sea rescue support so our thanks also go to County Antrim Yacht Club who are providing a safety boat helmed by Peter Darragh as well as two privately owned safety boats provided by Rory McKenna and Keith Black. Thank you to one and all. 

“We are also grateful to the ongoing support from Mid and East Antrim Council whose grants have helped our club go from strength to strength and other local businesses who have provided financial support.   

“All of this has allowed our community based club to develop. In fact, we are currently developing a junior squad for ages 11 to 17 so watch this space for rowers of the future!”