18 SPORT
TRINITY NEWS TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007
DU Ladies’ Boat Club
DU Judo Club
Female rowers lose Colours race again
Good day for Trinity at Judo varsity comp
Áine Feeney Ildico Wille On Saturday, 10 March, DU Ladies’ Boat Club’s first-year novice and senior crews took on their contemporaries from across the river in UCD in the annual Colours race on the Liffey. The day presented mildly favourable conditions for racing in these testing waters through the city, from O’Connell Bridge to the Guinness brewery on Victoria Quay. First up were the novice ladies in their first head-to-head race. The girls put up a confident performance and stayed ahead of their opponents, on the north station, from the beginning. Lauriane Bertrand steered the boat through the eight bridges, along the winding course to finish three quarters of a length ahead, a victory that sees the Sally Moorhead Trophy returned to DULBC following an absence of two years. Huge congratulations are in order to all the girls involved, whose racing that day shows signs of great promise for the coming regatta season. The senior women’s eight, comprised mainly of second-year novices and two former captains (Sive Geoghegan and Anna Walsh), took on a strong UCD crew later that afternoon. Following a slower start by the Trinity ladies, an exciting race ensued, which saw the distance between the two crews decrease as the race proceeded. Cox Eimear Deady steered a near perfect course but unfortunately UCD emerged eventual winners. DULBC put in an admirable performance, losing by a mere half a length. Although disappointed with the loss, the senior crew was pleased with its performance. On St Patrick’s Day, DULBC novice women took part in Tribesmen Head of the River, held on the Corrib in Galway. The course was shortened dramatically due to adverse weather conditions. The eight, coxed by Dónal Finnerty, finished third behind NUIG and UCC. DU Ladies’ Boat Club’s first eight vs UCD: Maeve O'Donnell (bow), Maire Gallagher, Kate Hogan, Katherine Sheane, Aine Feeney, Sive Geoghegan, Anna Walsh, Margaret O’Donoghue (stroke), Eimear Deady (cox).
Maggie O’Donoghue and Eimear Deady preparing for the start of the Colours race, the Corcoran Cup. Trinity lost. Photo: Martin McKenna
DU Sailing Club
DU Hockey Club
First varsity sailing win since 2003 Lisa Tait On 22 February, the relatively dormant town of Kilrush, Co Clare was shaken from its slumber by a gaggle of voices stemming from lifejacket-wearing strangers in search of Lucozade Sport and breakfast rolls, as sailors from all over Ireland gathered for the commencement of the annual Intervarsity National Team Racing Championships. This year, the task of organising the event fell to the hands of the Dublin University Sailing Club. After much deliberation and many refusals (due to the reputations of our predecessors) the Western Yacht Club in Kilrush was chosen as the location for our four day event, much to the delight of a certain Mr Randall Cunnihane. The event got off to a smooth start, courtesy of our captain, Davie Carr, as people scurried to and fro laying marks, rigging boats and squeezing into wetsuits after the long winter months. Locals gathered at the water’s edge, bewildered by the array of strange and colourful sails. Their mouths dropped as the racing began and they soon witnessed the sheer frenzy and vulgarity which team racing seems to invoke in otherwise placid sailors. Trinity really raised the bar in entertainment terms this year, kicking off the first evening’s activities with hypnotist Adrian Knight. Even the most sceptical of people were silenced as they watched their comrades doing ballet, chasing leprechauns and finishing with a (near) full
DIT hosted this year’s Judo intervarsities in Dublin. The main aim for both Trinity’s men’s and women’s teams was to defend last year’s titles. As more people than ever signed up for DU Judo this year, hopes were high to achieve good results and many medals in the individual categories, too. Thanks to the belt categories, not only experienced fighters had a good chance, but we also sent beginners to their first competitive experience. The day got off to a difficult start however, as the club learned of the recent death of their trainer Tony Gentles just minutes before the fights began. As Tony could not train with us in the weeks leading up to the event, we were not aware of this and not informed until a minute of silence was held on his behalf. Even though emotions were running high, the players managed to focus on the competition and were determined to do well in his honour. The competition kicked off with the ladies’ team event, which consisted of three fighters for each club. Trinity sent out all its female fighters on two teams, thereby taking the risk of not having substitutes. Trinity’s first team, which included ladies’ captain Jenny Dwyer, Ildico Wille and Elizabeth Moloney, regained their title convincingly by winning all of their fights. The second team, Inga Jende, Stephanie Toetsch and Amy Nordon shared third place with Coleraine. The second men’s team got a good fourth place, with Kevin Lally, Jeremie Garnier, Joe Moore, Luke Feighery and Ed Burridge fighting. The first team, however, also had a title to defend. Captain John Deenihan, Ciaran Cosgrave, Conor Flanagan, Kevin Moerman and Paddy “The Bear” Wheen successfully demonstrated Trinity’s domineering status in almost as spectacular a fashion as the ladies. The ladies’ events went on without a
break after the teams, with the weight categories coming first. Trinity’s ladies collected medals here as well. In the –52kg, Steph Toetsch won Bronze, being the lightest as her own category (–48 kg) had to be cancelled. In the –57 kg category, Jenny Dwyer made it to the final, unfortunately losing with a bite in her thumb. Inga Jende won Bronze. The –70 kg was dominated by TCD, with Renata Tekoriute winning, Ildico Wille taking second and Elizabeth Moloney and Amy Nordon sharing bronze. In the men’s weights, Joe Moore won silver in the –66 kg category. Ciaran Cosgrave, despite being injured, fought his way into the finals of the –73 kg category, and after a fierce fight, emerged victorious. John Deenihan, later to be crowned player of the day, started his winning streek by winning the –90 kg event. Paddy Wheen won his category (–100 kg) with none of his fights lasting longer than a few seconds. Whitebelt Ed Burridge in his first competition won the +100 kg, showing that even beginners can reach a high standard in our club. In the lower kyu, a category for people with white and yellow belts, Inga Jende won silver, defeating team mate Elizabeth Moloney in the semi-finals who won bronze. The middle kyu had the highest rate of participants and was dominated by Trinity again, with Ildico Wille winning all of her fights to take gold, and Jenny Dwyer only defeated by her teammate taking silver. Kevin Moerman won the men’s higher kyu. John Deenihan completed his gold collection by winning the men’s open category. He also became player of the day and Ciaran Cosgrave was awarded the trophy for the throw of the day. Despite the difficult emotional circumstances, it was a good and successful day for Trinity. We would like to dedicate our winnings to Tony Gentles. Even though he was only training with us for a year, we appreciated his knowledge of judo and his personality very much and will keep him in our memories.
monty. There also were two themed nights (all following the general trend of “naked chicks and loads of guns”, an old favourite!), two lock-ins and plenty of scandal to be discussed in between races. After two days of round robins, it was time for the knockout stage. In the Gold Fleet, the Trinity first team (comprising John “bouncebackability” Downey, Mel Croxon, Geoff Tait, Jess Guy, Neil Duke and Lisa Tait) saw off the Scottish universities’ sailing seam, placing them in the semi-finals against old rivals UCC. Trinity were determined not to see a repeat of the previous year (where UCC defeated Trinity 1 in the final), and after a gruelling three races emerged victorious, ready to take on UL. Spirits were high as both teams prepared for the racing ahead. All the while the wind steadily increased, serenading us with showers of hailstones. After some tough and competitive racing in the best of five final, Trinity managed to pull through in four races, winning the intervarsities for the first time since 2003. UL graciously congratulated us before we were swiftly dunked under the icy water as part of our much deserved punishment. All was forgotten however as the night culminated in a masquerade ball where many messy celebrations were to be had. We awoke with heavy heads on the Sunday morning, reluctantly cleaning up our houses in the vague hope of our deposits being returned and setting off home, back to reality, and back to our nine o’clock lectures, dragging the cup with us triumphantly.
DU Hockey Club’s first squad this year, winners of the Colours match against University College Dublin and the Irish Intervarsity Championship. Back row: Cian Denham (captain), Richard Miles, David Benjamin Hewitt, Aengus Stanley, Chris Tyrell, Nicholas Odlum, Niall Sommerville, Arul Anthoni (head coach). Front row: Stuart Cinnamond, Barry Glavey, Conor O'Sullivan, Jason Bryan (first XI captain), Daire Coady, Graham O'Neil. Photo: Martin McKenna
DU Boat Club DU Boat Club’s senior eight this year, winners of the Gannon Cup race against University College Dublin. Back row: Joseph Calnan, Edward Roffe-Silvester, David Cummins, Robert Swift. Front row: Eoin MacDomhnaill, Rory Horner, Gabriel Magee (captain), Gavin Doherty, Eoghan Kerlin. Photo: Martin McKenna