Trinity College Dublin's rowing clubs, Dublin University Ladies Boat Club (DULBC) and Dublin University Boat Club (DUBC), showcased their strength at the 2025 University Rowing Championships, held last Friday, 11th April at the National Rowing Centre in Cork. Under clear skies and calm waters, both clubs secured multiple podium finishes, culminating in a combined second-place overall in the university standings.
DULBC's crews demonstrated exceptional depth, with the Intermediate 4+ crew clinching first place. Notably, their B boat also secured third in the same event, underscoring the squad's strength. Additional silver medals were earned in the Senior 4-, Intermediate 8+, Club 2 8+, Club 2 4+, and Novice 8+ categories, while the Novice 4x+ crew took bronze.
Jane Prendergast, Captain of DULBC, reflected on the team's performance: "The 2025 University Championships were a great start to the regatta season for DULBC. Uni Champs is notable as the only multi-lane Intervarsity event of the year, so it's a particularly special event and one where success means just a bit more than normal. Our second-place finish in the overall university rankings, alongside DUBC, was a tribute to the depth we have across the squad, with a huge number of crews achieving podium finishes. The standout race of the day for DULBC was our win in the Intermediate 4+, made all the more notable by our B boat simultaneously placing 3rd in such. Other highlights were second-place finishes in the Senior 4- and Intermediate 8+ categories. It's a privilege to watch the hard work of our members begin to pay dividends, but the focus remains, as ever, on the National Championships in July."
DUBC also delivered a strong performance, securing victories in the Club 2 8+, Novice 8+, and Novice 4x+ (A boat) events. The club added silver medals in the Club 2 4+ and Club 2 1x, and a bronze in the Novice 4x+ (B boat).
Ben Reid, Captain of DUBC commented after the event: "We're happy with the results, which reflect the hours upon hours of hard work and dedication that are invested by rowers in both the Senior and Novice programmes. I was impressed by the attitude of all of our oarsmen, some of whom were partaking in their first ever straight laned regatta and will be disappointed to hear the weather is not always as pleasant at Irish regattas as it was on Friday! Although we are now back to the realities of end-of-year exams, there is much promise and anticipation for the rest of the season in DUBC, starting with the Trinity Regatta on Saturday 17th May."
With the regatta season underway, both DULBC and DUBC are setting their sights on upcoming competitions, including the Trinity Regatta in May and the National Championships in July.