UCD have day to remember

UCD won the blue riband senior eight race at the Irish Rowing Championships at Inniscarra on Saturday and denied NUIG/Gráinne Mhaol a third consecutive title.

It was a double victory for the university crews, who also won the women’s senior eight in a tightly fought contest with Killarney’s Muckross.

In the men’s seniors, UCD took the lead with Queen’s in second place. At the halfway stage the university crew were leading by three-quarters of a length, with NUIG Gráinne Mhaol and Queen’s level.

At 1500 metres NUIG/Gráinne Mhaol overtook the Ulster crew to move into second place by a full canvass. However, it was not enough to deny an impressive UCD crew.

UCD’s David Neale said: “It’s a great day for all involved as it is UCD’s first senior eights win in almost 40 years. A strong middle 500 did the damage with the fast-finishing NUIG always on our tails.”

UCD, who had been beaten by NUIG/Gráinne Mhaol at Henley two weeks ago, laid down a strong marker for the Galway composite when they beat them in the senior four race on the opening day of the championships.

It was a day to remember for UCD’s women’s eight, a combination of four senior and four young juniors.

Limerick’s St Michael’s finished third behind Muckross.

UCD’s Laura Gannon said: “We had three goals this year — colours, the university championships and national championships. To win all three is an amazing achievement and we still can’t believe it.”

In the men’s senior scull, it was a stroke for stroke race to the line between veteran Sean Casey (Muckross) and 17-year-old Paul O’Donovan of Skibbereen. The youngster led Casey at the 1500m mark but experience prevailed and the Kerryman pipped his Cork challenger to cross the line first.

Casey’s crew mate from Thursday’s championship-winning senior double, Cathal Moynihan, crossed the line in third place.

Strong winds created difficult rowing conditions on the last day, leading to a disappointing experience for Killorglin’s Monika Dukarska, who capsized just metres from the finishing line letting Laura d’Urso of City of Derry in.

Once again Skibbereen showed what a talented outfit they have become, in particular their women rowers, picking up a fine haul of five trophies over the weekend.

They teamed up with Lee Valley to form a winning combination in the men’s senior quad, then their women’s senior quad beat an Old Collegians/Three Castles crew.

Christine Fitzgerald and Denise Walsh continued Skibbereen’s winning ways by claiming the women’s senior pair and the club also collected the women’s senior four and the senior double scull.