Ferriter looking to aim high at the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Prague

Laghey native Enda Ferriter is enjoying every second of his exciting journey as he prepares himself for the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Prague this weekend. 

The Donegal Bay Rowing Club member is jetting off tomorrow to partake in the Over-50s 500m Heavyweight category on Saturday before he returns to his homeland on Sunday, and while he’ll be putting no pressure on himself, his aim is to compete to the best of his ability on the day. 

Having won the 2000s provincial championship in November followed by the 500m All-Irelands in January, Ferriter is now hoping to add a unique world title to his collection. 

His ability and success in the sport is a real testament considering he only took up rowing in 2018 and indoor rowing in 2020 over Covid. 

“I just decided to train and take up indoor rowing back in 2020 during lockdown,” said Ferriter. “I only started competing when everything reopened around November 2021. I started training with the rowing club in 2018 but it was only really gym work, but since 2021 I started to take it seriously, and here I am now.” 

With the event looming large, Ferriter sums up his feelings regarding the event before he takes centre stage in Prague. 

“I’m a little bit excited, but I’m not nervous. You can never prepare 100pc for these things. I know you can’t be perfect in these events, I’m long enough around now to understand that,” the Donegal man said. 

“It’s systematic as well, I mean you can say that I partake in a bit of a selfish sport because you’re looking at a screen and when you’re in the event you’re not really a part of a team although you’ve trained with teammates all winter. 

But in a 500-metre race you just have to focus on getting out of the blocks quick, but not too fast, and then your training instinct kicks in after that. 

For me, there’s no real routine, I’ll clock in early and get myself sorted and not worry about the event, I’ll warm up as usual, stretch, and just stay calm. 

Despite the Donegal Bay rower competing this weekend, he knows whatever comes of it, he’ll still have further events down the road in 2024. 

“Yeah, I’ll go back to Donegal on Sunday. I’m still going to compete in whatever I can. There’ll be provincials in November and others down the line, so there’s plenty to look forward to.  

“For now, it’s important to give credit to everyone in Donegal Bay Rowing Club for supporting me and training me. I also want to thank the sponsors who helped me raise money for the trip and for the Family Resource Centre last Saturday, Kevin Callaghan Pottery and Star Crest Seafood.”