News

Beautiful pink flowers added some sunshine to an overcast morning at the Grand Canal Dock as Plurabelle Paddlers gathered beside the Plurabelle memorial bench. The Plurabelles were happy to be joined by family members of recently deceased (and much-loved) Plurabelles for the club Flower Ceremony.

Tara led the ceremony, which featured poignant words and the song ‘Vitruvian Man’ by the Dublin musician Patrick O’Laoghaire, who performs under the stage name ‘I Have A Tribe’. Thanks to Tara for the lovely words and for choosing such appropriate music as we remember together our teammates and friends who are deceased, but who remain in our memories and in our hearts.

Belfast’s finest, Van Morrison, sang of ‘Days Like This’ and that perfectly captures the Plurabelle Paddlers’ trip to Lagan Dragons in Belfast on 30 September. Paddlers were mixed up on the three boats, so that the Plurabelles and Lagan Dragons were seat buddies. Together they headed for Belfast city centre . . . what a wonderful opportunity it was to see the cityscape from the water (including the iconic yellow H&W ship-building cranes). Afterwards the hungry paddlers enjoyed a buffet lunch before catching the train back to Dublin.

Thank you so much, Lagan Dragons, for your warm and generous hospitality. We had a truly wonderful day!

They’ve got the full collection now . . Yes, SILVER was added today (our final day of racing) to the GOLD and BRONZE won on the first day of competition.

This morning’s silver medal was won in the 500m Small Boats BCP category. The Plurabelles went straight through to the Grand Final, having secured victory in their heat by less than four-hundredths of a second!

The Grand Final saw 8 teams from 7 different nationalities compete over 500m (it was nail-biting stuff for the legion of Plurabelle supporters watching in Italy and in Ireland and beyond on livestream, with lots of cheering at the screen).

Well done, ladies, on today’s medal success and on a wonderful competition in Ravenna. Safe journey back to Ireland today and know that we are so, so proud our Plurabelle teammates.

To quote Julius Caesar ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici’ – you came, you saw and you conquered!!!

Forget Super Tuesday – today was Super Wednesday for the Plurabelle Paddlers!

Two teams competed at the EDBF European Club Crew Championship in Ravenna and both teams won medals at the 2000-metre distance. Yes, that’s 2km!

The 10-man boat secured GOLD in a closely fought BCS category and there was BRONZE in the Women Senior B category (standard boat).

There’s only a brief recovery time for the team before tomorrow’s Women Senior B (standard boat) competition at 200 metres. With three races to compete in, it’ll be a tough day . . . but, in case you haven’t noticed already, the Plurabelle Paddlers are tough women!

If you’d like to follow the action, the races are being streamed live and Plurabelle Paddlers will compete in the following races:

Race 32 @08.56 (Italian local time)

Race 40 @10.06 (Italian local time)

Race 47 @11.09 (Italian local time)

So, why not tune in and support the team (from your sofa … ssh, don’t tell the coach!)

It’s no exaggeration to say that this year’s Donegal Regatta was extremely challenging, both for the organisers and for the Plurabelles. But dragons aren’t easily defeated! Despite the Regatta being postponed by a day due to high winds, it went ahead the next day and was a terrific success.

The Plurabelles who could stay the extra day and compete in the event joined paddlers from Canada and Donegal in the Khalessi composite team – the silver-medal-winning composite team! Yes, Khalessi came second in the Minor final (between Donegal Dragons Inspire and West Island Dragons from Canada). In the Major final, Belfast Phoenix came first, Dublin Vikings second and Donegal Dolphins third.

As these photos so clearly show, we had a great time. The fancy dress theme was Superheroes – and there were plenty on display over the weekend . . . superheroes don’t always wear capes, some of the time they wear training tops!

Early on 11 June 38 Plurabelles and their supporters left Dublin to travel the 84 km to Carlow to compete at the Barrow Regatta. The club entered two teams in the Women’s category – the Plurabelles and the Purebelles. The Plurabelles reached the grand final and finished third behind Carlow Dragons, who beat KACC in a photo finish. Although the Plurabelles are focused and committed when racing, the Regatta was also an opportunity to enjoy a day out with teammates, family and friends. Thank you to the IDBA and well done to all our fellow competitors.