News
2024 Lagan Head of the River Results
On Saturday 24th January, 6 DUBC rowers and a coxswain went north to Belfast for the 2024 Lagan Head of the River, DUBC’s first event of the spring racing season. Three boats were entered, a Senior 4- in the morning 4.2k head race, and an Intermediate 4+ and Club 1x in the afternoon 2.7k head race.
In the morning’s longer race, composed primarily of eights and quads, DUBC’s Senior 4- put on a strong showing, placing first in their category, fourth overall, and the fastest four-oared boat of the morning, beating out nearly two dozen eight-oared boats. All this despite a clash on the penultimate bend and steering a challenging and unfamiliar course.
Intermediate 4+ charging home Club 1x moving through the final turn (L-R, Stroke to Bow) Luke Gilderdale, Morgan Brennan, George Roberts, Pearce Mooney Beccan Gruenberg
In the afternoon’s 2.7k head race, an Intermediate 4+ and Club 1x took to the water. The 4+, made up of three of the four athletes who raced in the morning’s Senior 4-, started first and finished first, once again winning their category and being the fastest four-oared boat in the race, while coming in second overall by a mere 0.4 seconds. DUBC’s Club 1x placed 3rd in his category, negotiating a new and challenging course in DUBC’s first sculling entry of the season.
Thank you to Belfast Rowing Club and all other clubs and individuals involved with organizing this wonderful event!
As the season continues, the lads are keeping their heads down and continuing to train hard, with eyes set on the Colours Boat Races on March 30th through city centre Dublin, and the Reserves Races the previous night in Islandbridge. Before that, we are looking forward to the Senior 8+ donning stripeys for the first time this season and the Novice 8+’s first race next Saturday 2nd March at Erne Head of the River in Enniskillen.
Winter Camp 2024
Last week DUBC’s Novice and Senior squads travelled up to Enniskillen for our annual winter training camp, where we boated from Portora/Enniskillen Royal Boat Club. Following the Christmas exams, camp provides a great opportunity to build momentum coming into racing season. Primarily rowing in pairs and fours, the day was divided between technique work and building up milage.
Flat conditions with periods of snow allowed the Senior squad to row nearly three hundred kilometres over the week, while the Novices sat into their racing shell (Spirit of ’66) for the first time and built up their own technique and milage.
Thank you to Enniskillen Royal Boat Club for facilitating some fantastic mileage. We look forward to returning for Erne Head of the River in just a few weeks.
Key dates in the DUBC racing calendar:
- Erne Eights Head of the River – March 2nd
- Colours Boat Race – March 30th.
- Trinity Regatta – May 18th.
2023 Erne 4s Head of the River Results
On Saturday November 11th DUBC travelled to Enniskillen to race the Erne 4s Head of the River. DUBC entered three crews, all under the intermediate coxed fours category. Against us were two intermediate crews from UGBC and Queens University Belfast.
DUBC A went off first in the category and recorded a time of 18:33.9. This placed them as the third fastest coxed four across the entire head, only two seconds behind St. Josephs, and UGBC’s Senior 4+ who won the Head as the fastest coxed four.
DUBC B recorded a time of 18:47.9, only five seconds behind UGBC, who placed second behind DUBC A. DUBC C recorded another quick time of 18:56.7.
DUBC B (Caroline Welch (cox), Andrea Grasselli (Bow), Ross McAulay (2), Alfie Hales (3 & Captain), George Roberts (Stroke)) DUBC C (Meave Hannon (cox & DULBC), Pearce Mooney (Bow), Sam Walker (2), Morgan Brennan (3), Luke Gilderdale (Stroke))
Our three crews placed 1st, 3rd and 4th out of the five intermediate coxed fours. Overall, DUBC came home with 14th, 18th and 21st place finishes out of the 63 Mens Crews this year, impressive performances from all DUBC crews in our first race of the season.
Congratulation to DULBC for their wins in the Women’s head, coming home with another two wins for Trinity: Senior 4+ and Club 1 4+.
Well rowed Trinity.