19th of March 2012. The date has been set. All crews have been training hard, and as we approach the New Year, sights are firmly set, in all squads, on the job in hand come March 2012. A massive influx on new members this year has ensured us with a sizable novice squad going into the Christmas break. Further more, high numbers of returning members from last years Senior champs winning boat, and many new additions from other clubs both domestic and abroad, has boosted competition for seats this year within the top end of club. With racing season fast approaching, UCD prepares for the migration to the warmer climate of Seville for a 10 day training camp. With our novice crew travelling along for the first time ever, it should be a good basis for seeing the changes made in the past 3 months.

Keep checking in for updates. We will keep you posted.

The countdown has begun, 8 weeks to Colours 2012. Though the official date of March 19^th has just been announced, crews have been training hard all winter in preparation for what is one of the biggest races of the season for both Trinity and UCD. Training on and off the water has been going well for DULBC with wins at Neptune and Muckross Head. A slight hiatus now in the schedule as students return home for Christmas but all will be back in early January for training camps.

Stayed tuned for updates.

DUBC oarsmen take a deserved break from their formal training structure over the Christmas period, following recent fitness testing and competitive successes (latest result).  Boats and rowing machines have been deemed off limits so most will be mounting their bicycles or strapping on their running shoes for the festive season. Both novice squads will be taking to Blessington for intensive training, with the 2nd years braving it out in singles as the first years take the larger boats. While the novices are recovering from hypothermia at home the senior/inter squad jet off to sunny Seville in the south of Spain for a water training camp in top quality facilities, focussing on pairs to improve boat moving proficiency. A lot of duelling on the water is expected at each camp as competition for places is fierce within all squads.

Well, what a day…what a day.

In short, the day was perfect. Four Races and four wins for UCD.

Novice Women and Men followed by the Corcoran Cup and The Gannon Cup. If you count the Novice B Races on Tuesday evening UCD won 5 out of 5.

The day attracted a number of ViP’s to see the race. Hugh Brady, Presidesnt of UCD, Colin Boreman, Head of the Elite Athlete Academy, Brian Mullins, Director of Sport, not to mention a certain Jaye Renehan representing Old Collegians.

UCD have put up a nice article on their site which you should all check out

http://www.ucd.ie/news/2011/03MAR11/170311-UCD-retains-Gannon-Cup-for-fourth-year-as-College-secures-clean-sweep-in-rowing-colours_-_Rowing-colours-go-green.html

Also there is a documentary being made on the race at the moment by a group called mediaconnect. I will forward on more details on it when I get it but here is a link to their site.

http://www.mediaconnect.ie/gannoncup2011/

The prequel to Thursday’s races was Tuesday evening’s Race for the Novice B Boats. The race was in Islandbridge. In true Novice style, there were crabs, clashes, stops, starts. The coxing was interesting and managed to make the 1500m course closer to a 2K race for each boat. After, a lot of ups and downs between the two boats UCD fell over the line a length in the lead and the tone was set for Thursday’s races.

The novice men were first up on Thursday for UCD after the novice women won. Previous outings at Limerick and Dublin Head should that there would be little between the boats. Trinity were very confident and match this batch of novices as some of the best to go through Trinity.

Trinity were down a length at Capeal Street Bridge as UCD exploded off the start and managed a touch over 40 strokes per minute. They settled down to a solid 32-33 and just walked away from a Trinity Boat which was trying to understand what had just happened. Welcome to side by side racing! UCD finished just over 3 lengths up at the finish.

As we know, the Novice Gannon Race is for first year oarsmen. Trinity have a very strong 2^nd Year Novice Boat which will take some catching. Based on this UCD performance they will have them in their sights.

The Senior women were next up and rowed well to beat a favoured Trinity Boat.

And so to the main event, The Gannon Cup.

UCD were looking very composed and focused before the start. This Trinity Boat has their eyes set at the Intermediate Pot at the end of the year. UCD will be looking at one level higher.

Off the start the strength of the UCD Boat was plain to see and pushed ahead of a slick Trinity Boat to force out a length’s lead before the four courts. The conditions were testing and the UCD boat, with a little more power and experience, were able to set the boat up better and stretch out their lead. Over the line UCD were 4 lengths up.

4 in a row to UCD.

As part of the St Patricks Day Festival, the crews were presented with their trophies in front of the GPO prior to the parade starting. Also, there was a nice bit of TV coverage of the racing on RTE.

After, there was an organised lunch in the Clarence. Between booking out both Restaurants we had over 200 people in attendance.

We all know the ebb and flow of the Gannon Cup. UCD are enjoying their time in the sun and without doubt Trinity will be back stronger and faster in future years, if not later in the season. A mark of a good crew is how the react to defeat and also how the respond to victory. It was pleasing to see the mutual respect between the crews at the lunch and the night out. Let the business happen on the water, and the enjoyment off!!

Thanks have to be mentioned to John Walsh who helped organise the day, The St Patricks Day Festival, The Clarence Hotel for enduring all of us! Those who have contributed to the Graduate Fund and UCD for their interest and support. All is much appreciated.

So, what next?

The University Championships are on in Cork on April 9^th. UCD have a Wiley Cup to defend. Queens University will be one of many institutions trying to prevent this happening.

Thanks,

Colm Daly

President

UCD Boat Club

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSD3w6mK7mc

Ladies/Gents

Just to bring you up to date on a few things with Thursday’s Gannon Cup

There is a last minute crew change;

Turlough Hughes is injured and will be replaced by Sean O’Neil.

Turlough is a scholarship student and joined UCD this year after studying in Kings Hospital. This is his first year sweep rowing after a very successful time as a single sculler. Co-incidentally enough, Turlough’s identical twin brother has also been ruled out of Trinity’s boat also which might prove beneficial to family peace!

We wish Turlough a speedy recovery and I am sure he will have ample opportunity to row in future Gannon Cups.

Turlough is replaced with Sean O’Neil, who has been a member of 2 previous winning Gannon Boats and won the Novice (‘07) and Intermediate (‘08) National Titles with UCD.

Sean himself is no stranger to last minute injury having been ruled out of the Henley boat in ’09 as he broke his collar bone the day before the event. Sean was in this years wining Dublin Head crew and has a wealth of experience and talent to offer.

Coin Toss

The coin toss took place yesterday. It resulted in John O’Keefe (this years Umpire) obviously throwing the coin incorrectly and Trinity won the toss. As a result, UCD Novice Men and Senior Men will race on the South Station. There were a number of press photographers at the event and I would expect some press coverage in the papers.

Also, as a sign of the times, there is an App Available for Iphone and Android users which is available at the link below. We hope to update this with the result once know.

http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/index.php/interact/apps

Thanks

Colm Daly

President UCD Boat Club

Senior men

Cox  Jennie Lynch

Peter Grogan ( Stroke)

Gearóid Duane

Sean Jacob

Finbar Manning

David Neale

Sean O Neill

Richie Murray

Colm Pierce (Bow)

Novice men

Cox Kirsten Joyce

Stroke Cathal mc gowan

7 John st ledger

6 Sam Baxter

5 Oisín Tracey

4 Eamonn lannoye

3 Rory vignoles

2 Brian reilly

Bow Niall Murphy

Trials for the final seats in the Novice and Senior boats were held this weekend. There was some good racing in pretty windy conditions in Blessington for the Seniors, and the Novices were put through their paces in Islandbridge.

It would seem that Trinity are playing their cards quite close to their chests this year as no crews have been announced yet. Rumour has it, however, that they were out on the lake this morning while the competition lay in bed.

Race Day Details

Buses to collect spectators from the Taxi Rank at O’Connell Bridge for the Corcoran Cup and Gannon Cup races.

Race Times

Gannon Cup Race 09:30
Corcoran Cup Race 09:00
Dan Quinn Shield 08:30
Moorehead Cup 08:00