THREE-IN-A-ROW WORLD RECORD ACHIEVED!
On Saturday 28th September 2024, at Crossfit536, a team of rowers and former rugby players broke the World Rowing Record for the fastest 100 kilometres, by both ladies and men aged over 40. All in aid of seriously injured rugby players and their families, with all funds raised from this incredible achievement going towards helping seriously injured rugby players live their lives to the fullest.
Congratulations to all 29 Rugby Rowers! Helen Hannigan captained the ladies team made up of Stephanie Corcoran, Susan Doyle, Colleen Farrell, Sive Geoghegan, Eimear Moran, Stephanie O’Kelly, Triona O’Kelly, 2 Time Single Scull World Champion & Olympian Sanita Puspure, and Grand Slam winner Nora Stapleton. Nora had the honour of completing the final meters to break the record! Captained by former Leinster Rugby and Ireland International Kevin McLaughlin, the men’s team is made up of former rugby players and athletes Scott Barron, Stephen Bradshaw, Bob Casey, Brian Collins, Ryan Corcoran, Gordon D’Arcy, Paddy Johns, Albert Kehoe, Kenny McDonald, Colin McEntee, Malcolm O’Kelly, Nigel Osborne, Chris Pim, David Quinlan, Stephen Rooney, Michael Swift, Niall Treston, and Wallace brothers David and Paul.
A few surprise guests arrived to support the Rugby Rowers including seriously injured rugby players Bernard Healy and Geoff Harte, husband of rower Colleen Farrell and Ireland Rugby Head Coach Andy Farrell and their son Gabriel, as well as rugby legends Ollie Campbell and Rob Kearney, with his young son Bobby. Not to mention all the husbands, wives, kids and many family and friends who turned up to witness history being made! Thank you all for being there and giving such great support.
This is the third World Record-in-a-row for the Rugby Rowers having previously broken the World Rowing Record for men over 40’s 100 kilometres in March 2019, with an average time of 1 minute 24 seconds for 500 metre pace. The second World Record was achieved in the 24 hours Rowing Record where 470 kilometres was covered over the 24 hours at an average pace of 1 minute and 30 seconds for 500 metres. Congratulations to everyone who participated in these incredible achievements.
Special thanks as well to the support team including Team Manager Michael Kearney, who is well used to organising teams from his time with the IRFU; as well as Professor Fred Wood, along with the nursing and physiotherapy volunteers who were on hand to ensure all the Rugby Rowers were very well looked after. Many thanks as well to the team of ‘foot holders’ who probably had an even tougher job than the rowers! Thank you to Michelle Murray for rounding up a gang of young rugby and rowing fans from Blackrock College to be foot holders: Jack Dolan, John Donnelly, Daniel Ennis, Daniel Larkin, Donnacha Murray, Joseph Norris and Stephen Wall. Thank you all for volunteering – you were all brilliant! In addition, the corporate support received is greatly appreciated including Fintan Gavigan from BusinessPlus.ie and DMG Media, Troy Lavin from VitHit, Darren O’Reilly from Wholesupp, and David Popplewell from Heineken; as well as The Blackrock Pub; and the IRFU for the kit. And last but certainly not least, a big thank you to all at Crossfit536 in Blackrock, Co. Dublin for hosting the World Record – many thanks to you all.
Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who has already supported this amazing THREE-IN-A-ROW WORLD RECORD and donated so generously in aid of seriously injured rugby players and their families. If you haven’t donated already, and would like to show your support, the donation page is still open with all and any donations are greatly appreciated to help beat this target as well!
Please click here if you would like to make a donation – thank you for your support.
