GALWAY MAN GAVAN Hennigan is on track to create history by completing a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean in record time tomorrow.
Hennigan began the Talisker Atlantic Challenge in the Canary Islands 49 days ago and is now fewer than 100km from the finish line in Antigua.
Italy’s Matteo Perruchini currently holds the world record for the feat, having completed the crossing in 52 days just under 12 months ago.
Hennigan, 35, is leading the solo category and third in the overall race, which means he is currently ahead of boats which contain teams of up to four people.
“I’m focused on controlling the controllables,” Hennigan said today from the Atlantic.
“I know about the chasing teams but I can’t do anything about what they’re doing. I can only focus on rowing my boat and pushing myself to the limit to get to Antigua as fast as I possibly can.
“My goal before this race was to be the first solo man home and to set a new Irish record. I’m going to achieve that. I’m fighting hard out here with my body and my mind.
“I’m focused on the next stroke and the one after that.
“I’ve got plenty of water in front of me and I’ll be pulling hard each and every minute I’ve got left out here.
“I’m going to get to Antigua with style and raise that flare and tricolour high when I get there.”
Hennigan, who is raising money for Jigsaw Galway and Cancer Care West, is expected to complete the race early tomorrow, on his 50th day of racing.
He is an experienced endurance athlete who has adventured to all seven continents, his exploits encompassing mountaineering and ultramarathon running, distances beyond the standard 42.2km.
Previous achievements of Hennigan’s include posting the third fastest time in the world’s coldest adventure race — the Yukon Arctic Ultra — which involves running 300 miles in five days in -30C.
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Only fair…connacht had only 1 fit lock last week between international call ups and injuries and got no help from IRFU..but when its munster its a different story…double standards
@jay bernard: bit of patience
@Jim Demps: Not really Jim, this lad signed in a matter of days once Kilcoyne is out, Connacht still waiting on a second row.
@jay bernard: there’s a difference between a prop and a second row. Most blindsides and no 8′s have at sometime played secondrow, where as the frontrow is different. Slotting into the secondrow is not too difficult and when a secondrow gets a yellow card one of the backrow just jumps in. Can’t do that at prop.
@jay bernard: would like to see Jack Dunne sent out West for a couple of months
@Paddy Kennedy: https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1322167460615905280?s=21
@jay bernard: surely this is a deal between Munster and Ulster. Munster get cover, and an Ulster prospect possibly gets some gametime. Why the assumption that the IRFU is in some way blocking Connacht? Maybe they didn’t go looking for a lock from the other provinces, or they consider those available not better than what they have
@Jim Demps: Sweet vindication! Fair play Jim.
@SomeGuy: Munster get a player from a different province while Connacht have to get one from an AIL side? How’s that the same
@Jim Demps: thank you Jim
I think both Ulster and Connacht are treated worse than both Leinster and Munster in general. Remember the time Pat Lam wanted to use his son as short term fh cover because they had a load of injuries and the IRFU refused it. He was playing AIL for a club in Connacht at the time as well. It made no sense.
@Rudiger McMonihan: that was a visa issue wasn’t it? He couldn’t go from being on a holiday visa and playing rugby for free to being in a paid environment as it would have been in breech of his visa conditions. Think Lam tried to play it out publicly to force it through but the union rightfully held tough.
@jay bernard: Cormac Daly???
Hopefully benefit for both parties. Great opportunity for the lad to see another pro set up and work with world class coaching set up.
@Bryan Russell: He already works in a World Class coaching set up.
@Ian Frizzell: It’ll still be good for him, Ian. Like when a young David Beckham spent a few months with Preston North End.
@Bryan Russell: he’s going to munster so not sure of the world class coaching set up. I’d say he’s got a better set up at ulster
@Ian Frizzell: keep your hair on, Ulster has fantastic coach’s and set up. This is a great opportunity to suck and see somewhere else not get somewhere better.
@Chris Mc: they’re both very good set ups. In what way is Ulsters any better?
@Bryan Russell: yes potentially a great opportunity to get some first team game time quicker, and also to catch up with some of his U20 Grand Slam mates again – something which is difficult these days. Hopefully it all goes well for him…
@Chris Mc: Rowntree was England’s forwards coach for 8 years and was forwards coach for the Loins for two tours but, as always, you choose to ignore this due to your anti-Munster stance. Add in the fact he played in the same position so it will be of huge benefit to Reid
@Munsterman: I think the player will benifit from different coaching and Munsters set up is very good. I think that Ulsters is better as there are not any question marks about McF being the right person for the job, whereas at Munster there are about Van Graan.
@Munsterman: ulster play a far more expansive game, bring through more young players and this coaching set up took a team in turmoil and turned them into a force in Europe and finalists in the league. Apart from this international window we have seen none of the above.
@John Buckley: easterby is the Ireland forwards coach and I wouldnt give him the junior 3 job at Colmine. What had this coaching set up done for munster. 10 seasons of going sideways
Let’s look beyond the interprovincial bunfight that these stories often become and ask the question why are their so many injuries at Munster these days? Is it down to the style of training, the style of play, sub-par S&C? Seems like you could make a full Pro-14 standard matchday 23 out their injuries at the moment
@Del McG: slot of props are getting injuries at the moment, Muster had to bring in Reid and Leinster had to bring in Parker. Connacht are light on second rows, it’s just the nature of the game especially after a long lay off due to Covid
@Patrick O Connell: Leinster only had to bring in Parker because Aungier & Salanoa left, leaving them short in the tighthead position during the international window. Furlong is the only injury in the Leinster front row ranks.
@Del McG: Parker is in because of Furlongs injury, Roman and Aungier stated over 6 months ago they were leaving. Leinster were happy to go into the season with Furlong Bent Clarkson .
@Patrick O Connell: also add in Abadalaze who in also a tight head in the Leinster squad
Good