Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club approaching Capel Street Bridge

The 69th OCBC Dublin Head sponsored by Romeril Forensic Engineers took place on Easter Saturday, 30th of March.

We had a really nice cool, bright sunny spring day, conditions were good for racing, a little bumpy to Heuston Station but overall good, coupled with a gentle eastern breeze, it was a day for for quick times.

Once again new bridge works meant we had to move the start up to Ha’penny Bridge.

The spring tide made getting over the weir a challenge but the OC lads on hand played a blinder in getting boats over safely and quickly, and 32 boats took part.

The winner of the Senior 8 and the overall Head was a dead heat between a Commercial-based composite and a UCD Senior / Inter crew, with both crews taking away a pennant and sharing the O’Brien Cup.

I understand that the one previous dead-heat in the event was a UCD/DUBC tie in 1953.

Category Winners: (Time – Mins:Secs)


Mens

Senior VIII Commercial Comp / UCDBC Dead heat (10:32)
Inter VIII UCDBC (11:02)
Novice VIII DUBC (11:17)
Junior VIII Neptune RC (11:35)
Senior IV+ Commercial ‘B’ (12:35)
Masters IV+ OCBC (13:28)
Novice 4 X DUBC (13:49)

Womens
Senior VIII UCDLBC (12:40)
Inter VIII Commercial (12:56)
Novice VIII UCDLBC (13:34)
Junior VIII Commercial (14:00)
Senior IV+ DULBC (14:47)

To view detailed results of the race click here

To view photographs of all of the crews taken from the Millennium Bridge click here.

UCD won the Diana Cooke Trophy for best overall Club.

Huge thanks to the OC members and friends who volunteered.
 Obviously without the volunteers the event cannot happen.

Thanks also to Neptune RC, DUBC and in particular UCDBC. Without the use of UCD facilities, we could not run the event.

 Next year is the 70th Head and we hope to make a big splash (figuratively).
Those of you involved in Clubs overseas might consider a trip home with a crew for that one.

As ever, we’ll need more bodies to help run the event though, no previous experience required – we’ll forward the date to all as soon as we can confirm it with Rowing Ireland.

With best wishes
Murrough O’ Brien
President
Old Collegians Boat Club