User:Aidanbolton/St. Patrick’s Rowing Club

== St.Patrick's Rowing Club ==

St.Patick's Rowing Club (also known as the paddys), are a traditional rowing club located in Ringsend.Our Clubhouse is in Ringsend, just beside the East-Link Bridge and also opposite to the proposed "U2 Tower" site."The Paddys" were fonded in 19??, the traditional colours of the club are green and white.Since "the paddys" are not the only rowing club in Ringsend , The Stella Marris Rowing Club are the club's main rivals when it comes to racing in Regatta's.Both clubs based in Ringsend, are members of the (ECRC) East Coast Rowing Council and the (ICRF) Irish Coastal Rowing Federation.

East Coast Tradition
Clinker skiff type boats were once one of the most numerous type of working boats found along the eastern seaboard of Ireland. They were recorded in 1874 by historian E.W. Holdsworth, where he noted that ‘The smaller boats employed for the line-fishery are of the same style as the Norway yawl, sharp at both ends.’.

Skiff racing has its origins in the occupation of hobbling. Hobblers were freelance pilots, and competition was strong to be the first to board the approaching ships. Not only did the successful hobblers receive payment to pilot the ships into port but they were also awarded the contract for discharging/loading those ships whilst in port.

The skiffs worked mainly between Lambay Island just north of Dublin Bay and Wicklow Head where they required considerable skill on behalf of the oarsmen. The long tradition of rowing is now carried on through the rowing clubs affiliated to East Coast Rowing Council. These clubs can be found around the old Dublin pilot stations of Ringsend & East Wall in Dublin Port, Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow and Arklow.Visit our webisite on faceook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002105752538

Regatta's
Annually each member club of the (ECRC) East Coast Rowing Council hosts a regatta ,If a crew (team of 4 + a coxain) wants to enter a regatta, they may enter under the following categories:
 * (Mens)
 * Under 12's
 * Under 14's
 * Under 16's
 * Under 18's
 * Intermediate
 * Junior
 * Senior
 * (Womens)
 * Novice Ladies
 * Junior Ladies
 * Senior Ladies
 * (Mens & Womens)
 * Mixed

Other Regatta's (ECRC)East Coast Rowing Council member clubs also regularly compete in the bi-annual ‘Celtic Challenge’, a race of over 90 miles from Arklow to Aberystwyth in Wales as well as other long distance races such as the annual Ocean to City race in Cork, or the Kish lighthouse row in Dublin. Clubs can be regularly seen training at sea along the East Coast between April and September each year. Present day racing skiffs reflect their traditional origins, and are twenty-five foot long, clinker built, double-enders.

2009 Regatta Dates
The dates for the 2009 ECRC affiliated clubs are:

2010 Events & Regattas
2010 is expected to be an exciting year in the ECRC calendar with the ‘Celtic Challenge’ kicking off the season for a few of the clubs. Below is the provisional list of events ECRC teams will make an appearance at:

Member Clubs
The current members of the ECRC are:
 * Bray Rowing Club
 * Arklow Rowing Club=
 * Dalkey Rowing Club
 * Wicklow Rowing Club
 * Greystones Rowing Club
 * Stella Maris Rowing Club, Ringsend
 * St. Michael’s Rowing Club, Dún Laoghaire