Westport rower takes Europe by storm

Westport rower takes Europe by storm


Mike Finnerty

TWO years ago Turlough Hughes from Belclare, Westport discovered the sport of rowing. Ten days ago the 18-year-old powered his way to a 10th place finish in the men’s single scull at the World Junior Championships in Racice in the Czech Republic.
The Mayo teenager continued his meteoric rise to rowing fame when he turned in a superb performance in the Irish colours all during the competition.
After a gruelling semi-final, where he finished fifth, he reappeared twenty-fours later, ready for another big effort.
Hughes conserved his energy in the middle stages of the B final, and was third (ninth overall) in the closing stages until a fast finish by Zygimantas Galisanskis of Lithuania saw the Irish rower finish tenth.
“It was a great race,” said Alan Thomas, the man who started coaching Hughes in February 2008 at King’s Hospital in Dublin.
“Compared to where he was at the beginning of the year, he has made great progress,” said Thomas, who added that the 6ft 4in Mayo rower had been “outpowered” by bigger men in the semi-final on Saturday.
Turlough, who is a son of Pat and Olive Hughes, often rows with his twin brother Patrick, is a member of the King’s Hospital Boat Club and was the first ever boy from the school to win an Irish Rowing championship last year.
He also captured the Junior 18 sculls at the National Schools Regatta, Queen’s Regatta, Trinity Regatta, and Monkstown Regatta last season.
Turlough’s recent achievement is the latest chapter in the success story of the Hughes family. His sister, Pamela, a former All-Ireland high jumper, also competed in the World Junior athletic championships two years ago.