Egans victorious in the 58th International Liffey Descent
By Stephen Leonard
THE 58th International Liffey Descent, which took place on Saturday, saw siblings Jenny and Peter Egan from Lucan win the Mixed K2 title.
Starting at the K Club above Straffan Weir and finishing at the Garda Boat Club in Islandbridge, the event covers a distance of 28.2km and includes 10 weirs and one portage.
This year saw the highest calibre of athletes from Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain along with a strong field of Irish competitors line out in the Mixed K2 class, making the Egans’ achievement all the more impressive especially given that it was the first year they raced together in the event.
"I feel very privileged to have competed in the Liffey Descent with my brother Peter Egan who won the Senior Men's K2 class on three previous occasions” said Jenny.
“He has been my role model throughout my canoeing career and I am delighted that we became Mixed K2 Liffey Descent Champions together" she added.
Delighted at their achievement, Peter told The Echo “I am delighted to win the Liffey Descent with my sister Jenny Egan, World Championship bronze medallist, continuing her record of winning the Mixed K2 class.
“It was our first Liffey Descent together and it was a winning formula”.
Meanwhile Barry Watkins and Jonathan Simmons of the Salmon Leap Canoe Club, finished fourth in the Senior Men’s K2 while clubmates Tom Brennan and Sean McCarthy came home first and second respectively in the Senior Men’s K1 division
Ronan Foley took the Junior Men’s K1 title while Ryan O’Connor of Salmon Leap and Great Britain’s Charlie Welch combined to land the Junior Men’s K2 title.
The Junior Women’s K1 prize went the way of Kate McCarthy of Salmon Leap Canoe Club while Gerry Collins and Conor Morrissey were first in T2
What’s more Iain Mcclean competed in his 50th International Liffey Descent and was presented with a special award to mark the occasion.
