Inniscarra Lake in West Cork is the idylic venue for the Irish Rowing Championship and it represents the pinnacle for all Irish rowers.

There are championships for 18 years old and seniors and non-championship events for Junior 16 and Junior 14 rowers.

Portora are in the second year of a build-up to the 2008 championship and had 40 rowers at the non-championship events.

The results were outstanding with 5 wins and a series of second places which made Portora the only Northern club to record wins - an amazing achievement for the coaching team led by Derek Holland and his wife, Jane.

Early on Friday morning, perhaps the most important race took place, mens Junior 16 eight. All the usual contestants were there - Cork, Galway, Neptune and two from Portora.

From the first stroke Portora lead and never relinguished the lead despite repeated pushes from the Cork crew.

Ably steered by James Byrne and stroked by Mark Coalter, this well-drilled outfit were in no mood to let the home crew gain any honour.

Michael Humphries, at six, has emerged as a rower of talent in less than six months. All the crew deserve praise for this sterling effort in very poor weather.

Having set the scene, the rest of the club responded. The mens and womens Junior 14 quad sculls won in some style against established clubs from the four provinces.

These are young rowers and coxes in their first season of rowing and although nervous, were able to do the business in the wide open spaces of Inniscarra Lake - a far cry from the pleasant waters of the Erne. There were excellent performances also from the womens Junior 16 eight and mens Junior 15 quad scull.

On the Saturday, morale was high and wins were possible if the crews rowed well.

Matthew Monteith, in the Junior 14 scull won a hard-fought encounter with his counterpart from Commercial Club in Dublin. He is a fine athlete and also stoked the Junior 14 quad.

In the womens Junior 16 four, Portora had it all to do against a tough Galway crew whose club are also undergoing a resurgence in Irish rowing. The crowd were treated to a great race which Portora led all the way but never dominated.

A delighted contingent of parents, coaches and rowers left Cork in a buoyant mood. The future looks very bright and next season Portora will surely break into championship form.

Peter Toon, the respected Australian coach, now leaves for home with mission complete and happy memories of the Erne.

Winners: Junior 16 eight - Harvey; Irwin; Little; Prentice; Burns; Humphries; Houston; Coalter Byrne.

Junior 14 quad - McElroy, Magwood, Wilson, Monteith, Byrne.

Junior 14 scull - Monteith. Womens Junior 16 four - McMaster; Nixon; Henry; Maguire, St. Ledger.

Womens Junior 14 quad - Longhurst R; Jones; Dempster; Nixon; Longhurst G.