The club’s athletes travelled 175 miles to compete against opposition from Munster and Leinster, with the early start proving worthwhile as ERBC enjoyed an impressive series of results over the 3km time-trial course.

Crews raced in single file against the clock, with the fastest times determining the winners, and conditions remained pleasant throughout the event.

While the number of victories was encouraging, one of the most pleasing aspects for the club was the performance of its absolute beginners in the Junior 13 category.

Having taken up rowing just six weeks earlier, the young athletes faced the challenge of competing in their first event, with simply reaching the start line representing a significant achievement.

ERBC’s strength across the age groups was underlined by a series of victories, including an impressive showing in the octuple sculls, where eight athletes row with two blades each.

The club claimed all three girls’ octuple events at Junior 13, 14 and 15 level, providing an encouraging early indication of the potential within its squads for the season ahead.

The victorious Junior 13 girls’ crew comprised Emily Cadden, Amy Madill, Connie Allen, Annabel Elliott, Lily Gallagher, Kacey Johnston, Florence Rasdale and Clara Curran, with Freya McNeary as cox.

The Junior 14 octuple featured Maya Kettyle, Sophie Latimer, Holly McCabe, Sophie Madill, Myleene Leonard, Heidi Bogle, Muireann Cassidy and Ellie McCauley, coxed by Rhea Topping.

ERBC completed the girls’ octuple treble through the Junior 15 crew of Maeve Rolston-McAuliffe, Kaitlyn Read, Hollie Shaw, Maya Kettyle, Myleene Leonard, Cat Starrett, Beth Bradley and Michaela Inhat.

There were further individual and crew successes, with Josh Allen winning the Junior 15 single sculls from a field of 22 competitors, while Muireann Cassidy claimed the Junior 14 single sculls, which attracted 18 entries.

The Junior 16 boys’ quad of Evan Clarke, James McAleer, Joel Crean and Oliver Jennings, coxed by Sophie Collum, also secured victory.

Clarke and Jennings combined to win the Junior 16 coxless pairs before joining Allen, Caelan Moore and Ollie Powell to take the Junior 16 coxed fours.

The boys’ Junior 14 octuple also came out on top, with Dara Mangan, Tommy Chen, Flynn Jennings, Harry Patton, Harry McCabe, Oliver Paton, Cathair McCusker and Charles Armstrong forming the winning crew, coxed by Ollie Powell.

In the girls’ events, Rolston-McAuliffe and Read teamed up to win the Junior 16 double sculls before joining Beth Bradley and Michaela Inhat to claim the Junior 15 quad title.

ERBC’s final victory came in the mixed eight, a format which has grown in popularity since its introduction at elite level by World Rowing.

The successful crew comprised Josh Allen, Evan Clarke, Tori Davis, Isabella Wright, Darcy Balfour, Clodagh Donaghy, Joel Crean and Andries Ferreira, with Freya McNeary as cox.

The victories, alongside a number of other strong placings, provided plenty of encouragement for ERBC as the new season gets under way.

After a 16-hour round trip, the club’s rowers had certainly given their coaches and supporters plenty to celebrate, with the results suggesting the journey to the Shannon had been time well spent.