UCD Win Varsity Championships at Kilrush Marina

28th February 2016

Firefly racing for Irish varsity honours at Kilrush in County Clare Credit: UCD Sailing Club

UCD reigned at the Varsity Team Racing Championships at Kilrush Marina in County Clare, the last national event of the year in the college sailing calendar. The event was organised by Trinity sailing and DIT Sailing Club.

Teams from around Ireland were on the Shannon Estuary from 24th-28th of February for the IUSA Inter-Varsity champions 2016.

The sheltered Kilrush Creek provided an ideal racing area for both competitors and spectators.

The event kicked off on Thursday with 27 teams from 11 different universities from Ireland and the UK competing in 4 different round robin flights. UCC1, Loughborough University, CIT and UCD1 came out on top of each flight after the first day. The teams were split into Gold, Silver and Bronze for a second round robin on Friday before entering the knockout stages on Saturday. The quarter finals saw some intense racing with Trinity winning over the undefeated reigning champions, UCC1. UCD1 raced UCD2 in the semi finals and Trinity came up against Loughborough University.

The best of 5 final came down to colours rivals, UCD and Trinity in light, challenging conditions. While Trinity won the first race, UCD came back with 3 consecutive wins, taking the varsities title. UCD2 were the third placed team.

Full Results:

Gold Fleet
1. UCD1
2. TCD1
3. UCD2
4. Loughborough University

Silver Fleet
1. UCD3
2. CIT
3. TCD6/DIT

Bronze Fleet
1. Queens University Belfast
2. UCD4

IUSA Awards

• Sailor of the year: Scott Flanigan, TCD

• Crew of the year: Cliodhna Connolly, UCD

• Fresher of the year: Mark Bolger, TCD

• Club of the year: CIT

• Event of the Year: IUSA intervarsities hosted by TCD & DIT

Published in Team Racing

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