Crowley delight at another big win in ravaged season

LUCAN masters rower Denis Crowley has been pleased with his return in a season that has been ravaged by the effects of Covid.

With so many major international tournaments having been scrapped, including the World Masters scheduled to take place in Austria in September, Crowley is pleased with the two victories he has scored in singles competition in both last month’s British Masters Championships and most recently the Henley Masters.

At the latter, Crowley had to fend off a strong challenge in the semi finals of the E (Over 50) division to win by two seconds and progress through to the final where he enjoyed a more comfortable victory, crossing the line two lengths ahead of nearest rival David Byrnes of Exeter.

“I was delighted to win back my crown in the British Masters last month and then to win in the Henley Masters for the first time was great.

“So it’s been quite good considering there really has been no rowing in Ireland or on the continent” he pointed out.

Still the Commercial Rowing Club coach and competitor was disappointed at the recent cancellation of the World Masters Championships

“It’s disappointing because we were just starting to get going” he said.

“It was a bit surprising too, but we’ll just have to look ahead to the next one which will be in France in 2022.”

Crowley boasts a hugely impressive record on the World Masters stage having carded a stunning eight gold medals across various age groups in the Single Sculls, Men`s Eights, and Men`s Coxless Fours at the 2019 event held in Lake Velence outside Budapest.

In the Henley Masters earlier this month he was joined by Commercials clubmate Albert Maher who, himself, recorded a fine win in the C (Over 43) class.

With no prospect of World Championship action this year, Crowley may look to compete at the Head of the River Time Trial in London.