COASTAL ROWING: Over a dozen crews have entered next Saturday’s Hobbler’s Challenge to the Kish and back from Dun Laoghaire (1.30) – at 28km the longest rowing race in the country.
The race commemorates the Dublin Bay “hobblers” – those skilled boatsmen who, in centuries past, watched out for incoming ships and earned a meagre living by guiding them safely to harbour.
The faster the oarsman the more likely he was to get the job and so began the tradition of coastal rowing races, not just in Dublin Bay but all around the Irish coast.
Most of next week’s crews, including those from host club St Michael’s, will set off in the traditional wooden clinker-built east coast skiffs – heavy but reliable. Also entered for the first time are a currach, a Cornish pilot gig, and a number of modern fibreglass boats, representing east coast clubs from Skerries to Arklow.
They will do well to beat last year’s winning time of 2 hours 57 minutes set by the crew from St Patrick’s Ringsend. A year earlier, Stella Maris Rowing Club, also from Ringsend, took the trophy. So can the Ringsend clubs make it three in a row?
St Michael’s Rowing Club is using the race to raise funds for the RNLI. On the same day, the spectacular multihull MOD 70s continue their racing from the East Pier, with a farmers’ market, Fairtrade and ethnic stalls, craft stalls, street entertainers and vintage amusements adding to the occasion. A day later (12.30pm), the Harbour Swim takes place. So lots happening in Dun Laoghaire next weekend!
TRIATHLON: Olympic triathlete Gavin Noble lived up to his favourites billing with a comfortable victory at the Vodafone Dublin City Triathlon, hosted by the Piranha club in the Phoenix Park.
After finishing 23rd in the London Olympic triathlon, Noble was expected to join an Irish team at the Team Triathlon Championships in Stockholm last weekend, but impending surgery kept him at home in Ireland.
Noble made the pace from the start, emerging from the 1500m swim on the river Liffey almost a minute clear of the chasers, led by Stephen Early of Belpark.
He maintained that lead on the bike and then cruised home on the run to win in 2 hrs 2 mins 53 secs. Stephen Early was less than a minute behind for second, with Shane Scully of Nenagh TC third after a strong run.
In a closely-fought women’s race, Andree Walkin of Limerick TC pulled away from Trinity’s Marie Boland to win in 2 hrs 23 mins 25 secs. 3D veteran Vanessa Fenton was third. Winning the sprint races were Brian Glynn and Emma Jane Sharkey, both members of the Irish junior squad. Over 900 took part in the three races on offer on the day.
VOLLEYBALL: With the Ballymun Patriots tournament launching the new season in a few week’s time, a number of clubs are recruiting. Among them are the Clondalkin-based Dublin Volleyball Club, winners of the VAI Women’s Cup for the first time last season.
The club, guided by head coach Mary Lalor, is aiming to have three women’s teams in action next season, along with a men’s premier league team. Interested? Contact dvcsec@gmail.com.
Also looking for new members is Aer Lingus, with four teams competing in the VAI leagues, included a women’s team that has won the premier league for the past five years. Contact is Gerry White at 087-9056445. Tallaght Rockets is another club happy to welcome new members, both competitive and social. A full list of clubs is available at www.volleyballireland.com.
BADMINTON: Leinster badminton swings back into action this weekend, with the Mount Pleasant Open in Dublin giving local players a chance to flex their muscles before the Autumn Open on September 22/23.
Last year’s singles winners were Scott Burnside from Lisburn Jennie King of the host club. This year, Burnside is seeded No 2 behind JoshuaMagee, while King is the top women’s seed, with Laura Butler at No 2. final. Daniel Magee and Niall Tierney team up for the men’s doubles, and are expected to meet Burnside and Conor Hickland in the final.
In a strong women’s doubles draw, Fiona and Pauline Glennon, runners-up last year, are top seeds, with Laura Butler and Kirsty Kelly at No 2, but the pairings of Keelin Hogan and Sian Williams, and of Jennie King and Frances Heslop could cause trouble. Daniel Magee and Fiona Glennon are favourites to take the mixed doubles, with Edward Cousins and Keelin Hogan likely to be their closest rivals.
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