Athlone Boat Club representatives shine at U-19 World Rowing Championships
Sarah Rockett & Anna O’Grady made history in the Women’s Coxless Four at the U-19 World Rowing Championships
The Irish junior rowing squad delivered an outstanding series of performances at the 2025 World Rowing Under-19 Championships, held from August 6–10 on the spectacular waters of Lake Galvė in Trakai, Lithuania. The regatta brought together over 594 of the world’s best young athletes from 47 nations trying to reach the podium across 12 boat classes, with three Athlone Boat Club athletes playing a starring role in Ireland’s success story.
The Irish Women’s Coxless Four produced some of the most exciting racing and one of the closest semi-finals of the event narrowly missing out on a coveted A Final spot by just 0.16 seconds.
Determined to finish on a high, Sarah Rockett and Anna O’Grady, alongside crewmates Isabella Wright (Enniskillen) and Clóda Phillips (St Michaels Rowing Club), pushed hard in the B Final. They led for much of the race before being pipped into second place by Croatia, securing eighth place.
This was a landmark achievement with Anna and Sarah being the first female athletes from Athlone Boat Club to have represented Ireland at a World Rowing Championships and the first time Rowing Ireland has sent a Women’s coxless Four to the U-19 World Championships.
Richard Heaslip added to Athlone’s presence on the world stage for the second time this Summer in the Men’s Coxless Four with teammates Daniel Crozier, Tommy Little, and Paul Schofield. The crew battled through the heats and semi-finals before producing a spirited B Final performance, finishing 4th to take 10th place overall.
Historic Gold for Ireland The championships also saw a groundbreaking moment for Irish rowing, as Jonah Kirby of Kenmare Rowing Club and Jack Rafferty from St Michaels powered to victory in the Junior Men’s Double Sculls. Their dominant performance secured Ireland’s first ever U19 World Championship gold medal.
With three Athlone athletes Heaslip, Rockett & O’Grady, the 2025 U-19 World Championships marked one of the club’s most successful international outings to date. Their achievements, alongside Ireland’s wider success, are a testament to the dedication of the athletes and families, their coaches, and the club’s growing reputation in Irish rowing.
Athlone’s successes in Trakai and in the recent Coupe De la Jeunesse Regatta was not only about the athletes themselves, it is also a triumph for the coaches who have guided them. Fergus Hannon, now with valuable experience as an international coach, brought his experience to the Irish team setup for the third year in a row. His involvement on the world stage is a source of great pride for the club.
Paul Donovan, another one of the club’s longest serving coaches, has been hugely influential in shaping many of the athletes and their recent successes, his coaching impact stretching back to the early days of our international standout athletes Martin O’Grady and Donagh Claffey.
The dedication of the club’s coaching team led by coaches like Fergie and Paul has built the pathway that makes world-class performances possible. Other coaches involved in recent years with our international athletes include Aisling Flanagan, Alan Kenny, Paul Lynam, Matthew Lough, Gemma Kiely, Kenny Colsh, Sandra Cunningham Pam Egan and Ciaran Donovan.
With three junior Athlone athletes competing on the world stage for the first time, two competing at the Coupe de la Jeunesse Regatta, two of our alumni Martin and Donagh bringing home a bronze medal from the U-23 World Championships, a coach with experience in the Irish setup, and deep-rooted coaching expertise at home, the 2025 international racing season marks one of the club’s proudest international chapters.
The 2024/2025 season is now officially over, and club captain Deirdre Feary extends her congratulations to all athletes who represented the club so proudly and at all levels over the season and sends her thanks to everyone who has so generously supported our club.
Everyone involved in Athlone Boat Club looks forward to a well-earned rest and coming back in a few weeks to do it all again!
