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Report and full results: Wet West White-water Weekend, 10-11 November 2007, Galway, Ireland.

65 paddlers gathered in the west for one of Irelands premier kayak weekends. The weekend run in association with the newly formed Galway Kayak club was based at two locations in the county of Galway.

Aodhan Hudson

The event began in Clifden on Saturday at the Salt Lake tidal rapid. Firstly the event was launched with the fun event of The Cuba* Inflatable class. Sponsored by Cuba and Bar 903, competitors had to race across the lagoon from one side of the stone bridge to the other and the race was won by Aodhan Hudson. Best Inflatable award went to a team of four paddlers from DCU Canoe Club and their joined inflatable Couches.

The competition then continued with Irelands first ever flood lit kayak freestyle rodeo. The Munster Dive and Canoe Clifden Rodeo featured 38 different competitors from all over Ireland participating in five different classes. At first the sun was out but as the event developed and the sun was setting the feature for the competition was floodlit from above the bridge. With music and commentary adding to the special atmosphere, smiling faces were seen from competitors and spectators alike.

Shane under the nightlights.

Some great performances were on display but most notably was Moe Kelleher in the Mens Expert class who tore the field apart with two great runs resulting in a phenomenal score.

Other winners were:

• Siobhan McGriskin Ladies expert,
• Pia Crofton Ladies sport,
• Darragh Mc Dermott Mens Sport,
• Tim Kiernan Junior Boys and
• Emer Farrell Junior Girls

Caoimhe Murray

Sunday almost 60 competitors gathered in Spiddal for a whitewater kayak race on the Owenboluisce River. With guaranteed water this event was much anticipated in light of the recent lack of water! The I-Canoe.com Boluisce Boatercross finished within the town where the river meets the sea. Competitors raced in heats featuring 6-8 kayakers with top finishers making it to the finals. Again music and commentary were there to entertain the onlookers and the sun was shining with plenty of excitement at the finish line. Special thanks must go to The Galway Civil Defence as well as the many Safety Kayakers who were kindly at hand ensuring the safety of all competitors

Rescue Ranger Pete Barron and Gill

Lots of excitement was on display with some epic carnage for all to see. With some great heats and finals the winners were as follows.

Mens Expert: Shane Flaherty,

Mens Sport: Colm Grogan,

Ladies Expert: Kate Harris,

Ladies Sport: Caoimhe Murray,

Juniors: Rory O Reilly

,

well done to them!

Spectators and competitors alike enjoyed the event. The weekend was a roaring success for Galway Kayak Club raising well-needed funds for the newly formed Club.

A special thanks to the following without their support the event would not have taken place. The landowners, the Gatekeeper at the Boluisce dam, Galway Civil Defence, safety kayakers, timekeepers, scribes, judges, shuttle drivers and event organisers

Our main sponsors for their generous donation of prizes Munster Dive and Canoe Cork, I-Canoe.com, and Cuba* Galway.

Looking Forward to next year!

Special thanks to Ger O Reilly and Eoin Hurst for the pictures.

Munster Dive and Canoe Clifden Rodeo RESULTS

Ladies Sport

NAME Run1 Run 2 J1 J2 ave J1 J2 ave total

1. Pia Crofton 10 10 10 10 10 10 20
2. Sara Hayden 10 10 10 5 5 5 ; 15
3. Deirdre Conroy 5 5 5 ; ; 5 5 5 ; 10
4. Aisling Doherty 5 15 10 0 0 0 ; 10
5. Caoimhe Murray 5 10 7.5 0 0 ; 0 ; 7.5

Ladies Expert

1. Siobhan 90 150 120 60 60 60 180 mcgriskin
2. Kim Siekerman 100 170 135 10 10 10 145
3. Kate Harris 45 85 65 45 45 45 110
4. Sinead O Donnell 35 30 32.5 15 10 12.5 45
5. Gill Crawley ; 25 25 25 10 10 10 35

Mens Sport

1. Darragh Mc Dermott 5 5 5 50 70 60 65
2. Eoin Hurst & nbsp; 30 25 27.5 35 35 35 62.5
3. Eoin O Raghallaidh 35 35 35 15 15 15 50
4. Brian Mc Donald 15 10 12.5 30 25 27.5 40
5. Killian Halpin 10 15 12.5 20 30 25 37.5
6. John O Brien & nbsp; 15 15 15 15 20 17.5 32.5
7. Trevor Ebbs 0 10 5 ; ; 10 10 10 15
8. Eoin Cleary 0 0 0 ; ; 10 10 10 10
9. Brian Sorohan 1 1 1 ; ; 0 0 0 ; 1

Junior Boy

1. Tim Kiernan 35 35 35 35 25 30 65
2. John O Rourke 20 10 15 30 40 35 50
3. Daire O Connell 25 25 25 15 10 12.5 32.5
4. Adam Mollen 20 20 20 15 15 15 35
5. Rory O Reilly 20 20 20 15 15 15 35
6. Emer Farrell 10 10 10 15 15 15 25 (1st Junior Girl)
7. Dave O Reilly 10 10 10 10 10 10 20
8. Eoin Farrell 5 0 2.5 20 15 17.5 20

Mens Expert

1. Moe Kelleher 320 370 345 560 540 550 895
2. Neil Gibson 175 170 172.5 220 220 220 392.5
3. Shane Flaherty 165 & nbsp; 95 130 90 90 90 220
4. Pete Barron 120 125 122.5 & nbsp; 85 95 90 212.5
5. Mark Coleman ;90 115 102.5 100 60 80 182.5
6. Ger O Reilly 70 80 75 55 55 55 130
7. Peter Osullivan 60 50 55 50 50 50 105
8. Colm Healy & nbsp; 10 ; 10 10 75 75 75 85
9. Fergal O Mahoney 40 50 45 30 30 30 75
10. Louis Kelleher 10 10 10 40 40 40 50
11. Dave Glasswell 5 5 ; 5 ; 0 0 ; 0 5

Icanoe.com Boluisce Boatercross

Mens expert 2

1. Shane Flaherty
2. Mark Coleman

Mens expert 1

1. Fergal O Mahoney
2. Louis Kelleher

Mens Expert 3

1. Moe Kelleher
2. Rob Coffey

Mens Sport 1

1. Kevin O Hara
2. Brian MC Donald

Mens Sport 2

1. Disqualified
2. Richie Sunderland 1
3. Colm Grogan 2

Mens Sport 3

1. Eoin Hurst disqualified
2. Eoin O Raghallagh disqualified
3. Danny O Morchoe 1
4. Eoin O Sullivan 2

Ladies Expert heat

1. Kate Harris
2. Siobhan McGriskin
3. Sinead O Donnell
4. Jean Costello
5. Gill Crawley dnf

Ladies Sport Heat

1. Caoimhe Murray
2. Aisling Doherty
3. Sara Hayden
4. Kathleen Tierney
5. Louise O Farrell
6. Deirdre Conroy
7. Aisling Griffin

Junior Heat

1. Rory O Reilly
2. Barry Sunderland
3. David O Reilly

Finals

Mens Expert Final

1. Shane Flaherty
2. Moe Kelleher
3. Rob Coffey
4. Louis Kelleher
5. Mark Coleman
6. Fergal O Mahoney

Mens Sport Final

1. Colm Grogan
2. Kevin O Hara
3. Richie Sunderland
4. Danny O Morchoe
5. Brian Mc Donald
6. Eoin O Sullivan

Ladies Expert Final

1. Kate Harris
2. Siobhan McGriskin

Ladies Sport Final

1. Caoimhe Murray
2. Aisling Doherty

Junior Final

1. Rory O Reilly
2. Barry Sunderland dnf.