Strong showing for the long-awaited return of the Liffey Descent

Strong showing for the long-awaited return of the Liffey Descent

MORE than 300 canoeists lined out in Saturday’s Liffey Descent – the first time the event has been run since 2019 because of Covid restrictions.

The Men’s K1 event was won by Alex O’Brien in a time of 2.04 with closest rival Jason Briody just a further 16 seconds adrift while the top competitor in the women’s equivalent was Aisling Smith of Salmon Leap in 2.13:47, ahead of Kate McCarthy in 2.43:12.

Aisling Smith on her way to victory in the Women’s K1 division in Saturday’s Liffey Descent 

One notable absentee from this year’s event was Ireland’s top international Jenny Egan, who, this week, flew out to Copenhagen for the ICF Senior Canoe Sprint World Championships.

Her fiancé Jon Simmons and brother Peter combined to finish runner- up in the Men’s K2 division behind another Salmon Leap pairing of Ronan Foley and Barry Watkins.

Pleased with their performance, Peter Egan told The Echo “With Jon coaching and me working, we didn’t have a lot of time to train together, but it still worked out pretty well.

Matthew McCartney and Rob Heth of Celbridge Paddlers in action at the Liffey Descent

“We got a good clean run and that’s the most important thing.

“It was great to get back out because the Descent hasn’t been run in two years. The organisers did a great job” he added.

Sean Martin was the winner of the Men’s C1 event in 2.59:49 ahead of Paul Magee while Roger McClure and Ken Boland teamed up to top the Men’s C2 Doubles division with a finishing time of 2.32:13.

Another of the Salmon Leap contingent, Paul Donnellan won the Junior Men’s K1 class in 2.09:36 ahead of Ben Smith in 2.13:56 while Leon Tomlinson took victory in the Men’s K1 Wild Water.

The Junior Women’s K1 title went the way of Naoise Finn who finished in 2.53:37 while Andrew Boland scooped the Men’s 39+ K1 honour.

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