UCD’s first entry at Henley Royal Regatta since 2016 had an excellent run with strong wins against experienced opposition.
The lineup was David O'Malley (Str), Shane Mulvaney, Andrew Goff and Shane O'Connell, who arrived in good form having not been beaten since coming together as a unit, a run that included 2018 Irish Championships, 2018 and 2019 Irish University Championships and London Metropolitan Regatta, along with a number of Irish regattas.
The first round saw them matched up against Leander Club, a world famous rowing institution which UCD had never beaten, but a very impressive row saw the College crew through well.
Düsseldorf & Crefeld from Germany awaited in the second round. This was a much heavier combination than UCD but the cohesion in the College crew trumped the power and again they progressed.
The run finished in the semi-finals where they met the likely GB 4- for this season’s U23 World Championships, racing as Cambridge University & Leander Club. UCD again acquitted themselves excellently but the opposition proved too strong – a point they emphasised by going on to win the competition the following day while breaking the course record in the process. [Update 30 July 2019 – this crew went on to win the Mens 4- for Great Britain at the U23 World Championships in Sarasota.]
Many thanks to the supporters who made the trip possible, including Old Collegians Boat Club and several alumni. Footage and results from each day are available below.
UCD racing the 2019 Visitors’ Challenge Cup, L-R: Shane O’Connell, Andrew Goff, Shane Mulvaney, David O’Malley
Thursday
| Race No | Time | Event | Berks | Bucks | Result |
| 24 | 10.45 | Visitors’ | 227 University College, Dublin, IRL | 216 Leander Club | Berks by 2 1/4 lengths |
Univ. Coll., Dublin v Leander Club – Visitors’ | Henley 2019 Day 2
Univ. Coll., Dublin v Leander Club – Visitors’ | Henley 2019 Day 2 Subscribe to Henley Royal Regatta: http://bit.ly/HRRSubscribe University College, Dublin, IRL v Leander Club in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup. As live race replay from Day 2 at Henley 2019, Thursday 4th July.
Friday
| Race No | Time | Event | Berks | Bucks | Result |
| 87 | 7.35 | Visitors’ | 227 University College, Dublin, IRL | 222 Düsseldorf & Crefeld GER | Berks by 2 3/4 lengths |
Univ. Coll., Dublin v Düsseldorf & Crefeld – Visitors’ | Henley 2019 Day 3
Subscribe to Henley Royal Regatta: http://bit.ly/HRRSubscribe University College, Dublin, IRL v Ruderclub Germania Düsseldorf & Crefelder Ruderclub, GER in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup. As live race replay from Day 3 at Henley 2019, Friday 4th July. Watch Day 3 live: http://bit.ly/HRR19Day3 Visitors’ Challenge Cup 2019 highlights: http://bit.ly/HRR19Visitors ——————————————————- Henley Royal Regatta is the pre-eminent, river-based international rowing regatta.
Saturday
| Race No | Time | Event | Berks | Bucks | Result |
| 30 | 3.50 | Visitors’ | 216 Cambridge University & Leander Club | 227 University College, Dublin, IRL | Berks by 1 3/4 lengths |
Camb. Un. & Leander v Univ. Coll., Dublin – Visitors’ | Henley 2019 Semi-Finals
Subscribe to Henley Royal Regatta: http://bit.ly/HRRSubscribe Cambridge University & Leander Club v University College, Dublin, IRL in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup. As live race replay from Semi-Finals Day at Henley 2019, Saturday 5th July. Watch Semi-Finals Day Live: http://bit.ly/HRR19SemiFinals Visitors’ Challenge Cup 2019 highlights: http://bit.ly/HRR19Visitors ——————————————————- Henley Royal Regatta is the pre-eminent, river-based international rowing regatta.