Fifty-seven rowers from the Erne represented Portora at the Queen's Regatta and a special Schools' Regatta on the Friday before the main event.
The Schools' Regatta was a first attempt to create an event where young rowers could represent their schools separately from their club.
Fourteen schools from all over Ireland entered. Mount Lourdes won the Junior 16 eights event, beating Methodist College handsomely and in the Junior 18 event the Collegiate beat Methodist again. In the coxed fours, Mount Lourdes won again and so made it a memorable first for these Enniskillen schools.
In the Junior coxed four race, Portora boys' crew were neck and neck with St Joseph's for 1,500m with the lead changing hands a number of times until St Joseph's were given the verdict by two feet.
These close races cannot be replicated in training and are essential in developing good rowers.
The trick now was to repeat the win at the Queen's Regatta on Saturday. This proved to be a bit more difficult. Many finals were reached and many close verdicts were recorded but the hard luck story of the weekend was the loss by Portora.
Junior 16 girls against Dublin Commercial Rowing Club - they led for three-quarters of the race by half a length, but towards the finish an unfortunate equipment failure occurred, which prevented the stroke of the crew participating fully for about 20 seconds. This allowed Dublin to get a little bit ahead and Portora could not pull through before the time. It was hard on these young rowers but they will rise again.
Matthew Monteith at Junior 14 won the sculling event in style and showed that he is one for the future. He wasn't finished, however, as he then rowed in the Junior 15 light in an absolute thriller. It was only a two boat race but St Joseph's, Galway, the main school in Irish rowing, were the opposition. Portora - stroked by Mark Coalter whose age belies his maturity - led from the first stroke and slowly ground their way down the course - first, half length; then three-quarters and, finally one length at the finish.
It was nearly 7.00pm when it finished but the gathering gloom was dispelled by the high spirits in the Portora camp. These wins plus the many second places showed that the season ahead will have many good moments.
