Splendid sunny conditions and enthusiastic crowds along the river walls lent plenty of atmosphere to the colours rowing races on the Liffey on Saturday, but the competition was too one-sided for sustained excitement, with Trinity winning all five races.
Trinity's win in the men's senior race, the 50th Gannon Cup, was set up by a fine start which left them half-a-length clear by the first bridge, Watling Street. The race starts at James's Gate and finishes just beyond O'Connell bridge.
Over the next few hundred metres UCD kept in touch, but seemed strangely limp in their attempts to mount a challenge. They had won the toss and opted for the south station, but even the advantage this should have given them as the race unfolded did not translate into a real push. Trinity, setting an even, comfortable pace, began to extend their lead: by Capel Street bridge they were two lengths clear, and they never had to up their rate again. They won by three-and-a-half lengths.
UCD could offer few clues afterwards for their apparent lethargy, club captain Conor Hurson saying simply that he was "bitterly disappointed", but Trinity's policy of building their crew through racing competition has clearly paid off. Gianpiero Cavalleri only came into the crew this season, but has proved an able stroke. The race was also notable for the achievement of James Lindsay-Fynn in taking his fourth Gannon in-a-row and William Gilbert's in taking his third. This crew, with its mix of new and old, may carry the winning habit beyond the Gannon.
Debbie Stack also took her fourth colours title in-a-row on Saturday, but there was a twist in the tale - she won this Corcoran Cup with Trinity, where she is completing a Higher Diploma in Education, having won the previous three with UCD.
The race itself was a carbon copy of the men's: Trinity established an early advantage, pulled far enough away to be comfortable and won by a margin of two lengths. The one close race of the day was at men's novice level, where UCD have become stronger this year. They lost out by only a canvas.
