Butler Cup 2009

One of the most eagerly anticipated events on the boat club?s social calendar, the Butler cup, will take place on Saturday the 19th of December 2009. First and foremost, the day represents UCDBC?s new novice?s first acquaintance with the exhilaration of head to head racing. The preliminary rounds are scheduled to begin at 2:00pm. Racing will continue throughout the day, impervious both to precipitation and inebriation. As is tradition, a number of mixed eights will take to the water, between the early rounds and the finals, ostensibly for the purposes of showing the competing novices how things should be done. These races are open to anybody who can brave the elements and the likelihood of embarrassment. The winning crew will be presented with the President?s drum, and the losers will scorned for a thousand years. Off the water, events will have a decidedly festive flavour. Mince pies and hot whiskey, among other refreshments, will be in plentiful supply. The boathouse will be adorned with the gaudiest decorations which we can lay our hands on, and the winter cold will be kept at bay by both warm conversation and, perhaps more importantly, several patio heaters. As night falls a mass exodus towards the city centre will ensue, and all those fortunate to survive will arrive at Hartigan?s, where the fun and ritual humiliation can flirt with the boundaries of propriety.

I encourage all to join in on the festivities.