ROWERS have spoken of their ‘sadness’ after a charity rowing event was cancelled due to ‘fluid and unstable’ weather conditions.
The Celtic Challenge – a biannual event in which teams of rowers cross the Irish Sea from arklow to Aberystwyth to raise money for good causes – was due to take place this weekend.
However, in an emergency meeting held on Tuesday (Apr 26) the decision was taken to postpone the event due to the weather.
Mick Fothergill, the Chair of the Celtic Challenge Committee said: “Even the best scenario does not provide us with the 36 hour safety window we require. Small windows do exist but are sandwiched between very active low pressure systems, and we feel that we cannot take the risk with so many craft and so many lives.”
Mr Fothergill said that some people will still be travelling to Arklow, and there will be a rowing event on the Rheiddol on Sunday afternoon, to which all competitors were invited.
“For the future we are intending to organise another Celtic Challenge in 2017 and will offer the 2016 teams a discounted entry fee should they wish to take part,” he added.
Towy Rowers team captain Nic Thomas confirmed that the club would be honouring all the pledges made to the Luke Somerfield and the Cameron Comey Memorial Trusts.
The team will now be rowing from the boat club in Llansteffan to Carmarthen Quayside and back down the river to Saundersfoot. They then plan to camp overnight and return to Towy Boat Club the next day, heading to Tenby before returning home – a distance of some 50 miles.
“I am still working through logistics and arranging safety cover, and we are looking at the end of May or the beginning of June,” Nic told us.
“I would like to extend our sincere apologies for not being able to fulfil our intentions of rowing across the Irish Sea this year. The race has been postponed to 2017, and we hope to be in a position to enter next year.
“It is certainly unfinished business in my book and I am determined to get a crew together to get the job done.
“We are extremely grateful for all the messages of support, and can empathise with the sadness and frustration caused now that the race will not be going ahead. It must have been a very difficult decision for the organisers to make and we fully support that decision.
“None of this would have been possible without the generosity of the local community and businesses who have supported us with donations and sponsorship. May I express a heartfelt thank you to everyone for their continued support.”
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