After 18 months of lockdowns, boathouse closures and cancelled regattas, DUBC returned to Inniscarra to compete at the 2021 edition of the National Rowing Championships. First place finishes were achieved in 3 events, a tally not achieved by the club at a championship regatta since 1981.
 
The first victory of the regatta was on Saturday morning in the men’s novice quad. Chris Dehaene, Alfie Hales, Matthew McRedmond, Ruairí Doyle and Isabel Doyle took home the championship in style, defeating local rivals UCD and setting a new course record for the event in the process.
 
A few hours later, incoming Captain Tom Stevens took to the water to compete in the club single scull. Having set the fastest qualifying time for the final, he was the favourite to take home the win and he duly delivered. Taking advantage of the tailwind conditions, Tom bested the course record for the event by a remarkable 10 seconds.
 
Sunday morning saw the club eight take to the water, featuring a mix of novice athletes and more experienced rowers. Pushed all the way by UCD Boat Club, the eight sealed DUBC’s third championship victory.
 
DUBC also had two second-place finishes on the weekend. The intermediate coxed four came up just short behind a strong crew from the University of Limerick. The club coxed four were unfortunate not to win a fourth national championship, being edged out by less than half a second.
 
Congratulations to all the DUBC athletes who have shown historic perseverance and commitment to their training over the last 18 months, with much completed in isolation. Congratulations are due also to DUBC Head Coach, Paul Thornton at his first championships with the club.

One of the 1977 Ladies Plate crew members has written a lighthearted account of the crew’s three year campaign to try to win the event. While it deals amusingly with some of their outrageous non rowing adventures, the sections on the changes within Trinity College during those years, and especially the descriptions of rowing in general, and racing in particular, are dealt with in a far more serious vein.

Copies of the book, “The Trinity College VIII”, are now available for pre-order. Watch this page for updates on the book, with launch on September 14th. The author will be present at Henley Royal Regatta this week to discuss the book and take orders!

Please note that all royalties from the sales of this book will be donated to organisations that support rowing. Please encourage friends and family to buy through this channel to support DUBC and DULBC. 

This Monday, the 28th of September, marks the beginning of a much-changed Freshers’ Week. While life in Trinity has moved online, Dublin University Boat Club is eager to welcome new members to the sport of rowing.

DUBC has a tailored training programme for Trinity students with no prior rowing experience. Based at our boathouse in Islandbridge, a dedicated and experienced group of coaches will guide the development of our beginner oarsmen throughout the year.

Newcomers train and race in the novice category, which consists solely of other beginners. Within a few months, novices can expect to go from taking their first pull of an oar, to racing in regattas across Ireland and abroad.

Rowing for DUBC is special for a multitude of reasons. For some, it is the competition and hard work that attracts them to the club; for others, it is the friendship and camaraderie. Both reasons are equally valid.
For anyone interested in joining DUBC, please sign up here.