The Big Pot Defended

After a long wait UCD took to the 2021 Irish Championships with a Mens Senior 8+ title to defend and did so successfully, the first time for College since “The Animals” in the early 70s, while the Ladies Boat Club had an excellent weekend taking home the Womens Club 8+ and Womens Intermediate 8+.

During 18 months of restrictions and lockdowns, the UCD squads continued to work and push each other, determined to see themselves through the challenging times. This determination spanned the whole squad, underlining a incredible depth of talent, and saw UCD compete in the Mens Senior, Inter and Club 8+ events with separate crews.

While the Big Pot is an outstanding achievement, the performance of the club across the board was also notable. A total of 34 UCD athletes donned the coveted St. Patricks Blue and Saffron over the weekend, competing in every division from Novice to Senior. 

FRIDAY

Friday’s first race was Mens Senior 4- with defending champions UCD entering two strong crews in a bid to retain the title for a third consecutive year. Despite some great racing and quick pace, neither UCD crew were able to best the strong Shandon/UCC composite.

Mens Club 4+ was up next with UCD again entering two crews. Both UCD boats showed excellent pace in the heats and managed to qualify for the final later that day, with UCDBC B going on to claim 3rd place.

Friday’s last race was the Mens Intermediate 8+, an event where the standard of competition continues to be very high. Defending champions Cork Boat Club, UCD and Commercial Rowing Club entered strong and experienced crews. UCD’s second crew, taking on the challenge, fought very hard and managed to put in an impressive time. However, Cork Boat Club raced exceptionally well and College finished in third.

SATURDAY

With all Mens 8+ events taking place on Friday and Sunday, the Mens Novice 4X+ was a major focus on Saturday. UCD’s unit had performed well throughout the season taking wins at the University Championships and Lough Rynn Regatta. The rest of the squad attended in support of the crew’s first Irish Championship race. The contest was incredibly tight with UCD holding on to the canvas of the eventual winners, Trinity.

Saturday also saw two UCD scullers, Gavin Griffin and Cian O’Sullivan in the Mens Club 1x. Both athletes rowed a smooth time trial but did not progress from the heat against more experienced opposition.

SUNDAY

UCD’s third 8+ took on the challenge of the Mens Club 8+ event. The crew entered the race undefeated, showing excellent pace in training and racing all year. The crew made it through the morning heats safely and looked ready to take on a strong Trinity crew in the final. UCD got off to a good start but lost a couple seats by the end of the first 250m. Trinity would go on to hold UCD at a third of a length. The UCD crew threw everything they had at Trinity in the final 500m but couldn’t quite make it through. Second place was a disappointing result for the young crew but the experience is sure to serve them well over the many years they have left in the Boat Club.

After an intense morning of racing in the Club 8+, the focus shifted towards the Mens Senior 8+. The squad had targeted defending the Senior 8+ title at the very beginning of the season, and indeed the previous season before the Championships fell to Covid, a feat that hadn’t been achieved by UCD since 1973. The club had three crews in the race and the support for one another was fantastic to behold.

Once the flag dropped, all crews charged off the blocks with UCD A taking an early lead. The Shandon/UCC composite who bested UCD in the Senior 4- continued to push hard, maintaining contact with UCD A to the 1000m mark, but the race rhythm of UCD A was good. Cork Boat Club, winners of the Intermediate 8+, began to push and overtook the composite, leading the charge on UCD A to the line. UCD A finished well however, with just over a length to second placed Cork and the composite in third. UCD C were 4th and UCD B 5th, laying the marker for their future exploits at this level.

It was another memorable ending to the season, capping off an unusual and extraordinary year. Despite the unprecedented circumstances, all UCD athletes showed their true colours by representing College with pride and distinction, both on and off the water.

A huge congratulations to UCD Ladies Boat Club who also had a fantastic weekend at the Irish Championships, winning both Women’s Intermediate 8+ and Club 8+ by impressive margins.

A special thanks as always for the amazing coaches. Martin Feeley and Niall Farrell led the Senior squad again, this time with help from Niall Kenny and his wealth of rowing experience and knowledge. For the Novice squad, the welcome return of coaches Barry O’Connor and Mark McShane was vital to this season’s campaign, with the addition of UCD legends Eoin Gleeson and James O’Sullivan. A big thank you also to Rob Brown who led the club as Captain through two Covid-hit seasons with determination and enthusiasm.

The club and athletes are also very grateful for the support provided by our committees, alumni, UCD Sport and UCD Student Services. Without this foundation, the athletes could not perform to the levels they do.

Full results at Rowing Ireland.

Hon College! 

CREWS

Mens Senior 8+ (A, Irish Champions)

David Joyce (Bow)
Fintan Earley
Tom Bedford
David Somers
Thomas Earley
Andrew Kelly
Cameron Murphy
David O’Malley (Str)
Robin Keane (Cox)

Mens Senior 8+ (B)

Cian O’Sullivan (Bow)
Coman O’Connell
Niall Herlihy
Mark Doyle
Joe Ronaldson
Jack Stacey
Rob Brown (C)
Ewan Jarvis (Str)
Shauna Fitzsimons (Cox)

Mens Senior 8+ (C)

Alan Kelleher (Bow)
Mikey Campion
David Kelly
Michael Lynch
Andrew Carroll
Dach Murray
David Crooks
Sam Daly (Str)
Rachel Yuhas (Cox)

Mens Senior 4- (A)

David Joyce (Bow)
David Somers
Andrew Kelly
Thomas Earley (Str)

Mens Senior 4- (B)

Cameron Murphy (Bow)
Fintan Earley
Tom Bedford
David O’Malley (Str)

Mens Intermediate 8+

Niall Herlihy (Bow)
Coman O’Connell
Joe Ronaldson
Mark Doyle
Rob Brown (C)
Jack Stacey
Andrew Goff
Ewan Jarvis (Str)
Shauna Fitz (Cox)

Mens Intermediate 1x

Mark Doyle

Mens Intermediate 1x

Joe Ronaldson

Mens Club 2 8+

Alan Kelleher (Bow)
Mikey Campion
David Kelly
Michael Lynch
Andrew Carroll
Dach Murray
David Crooks
Sam Daly (Str)
Rachel Yuhas (Cox)

Mens Club 2 4+ (A)

Alan Kelleher (Bow)
Michael Lynch
Andrew Carroll
Dach Murray (Str)
Rachel Yuhas (Cox)

Mens Club 2 4+ (B)

David Crooks (Bow)
Max Browne
David Kelly
Sam Daly (Str)
Robin Keane (Cox)

Mens Club 2 1x

Gavin Griffin

Mens Club 2 1x

Cian O’Sullivan

Mens Novice 4x+

John Gilhooly (Bow)
Alex Usovich
Alan Kelleher
Gavin Roche Griffin (Str)
Jessica Goodbody (Cox)