Garda Siochana Boat Club won the Leander Grand Challenge Trophy for men's senior one eights at Cork City regatta at the National Rowing Centre, Inniscara, on Saturday.
The big race of the day went ahead despite the postponement of much of the programme because of dangerous weather conditions. Strong south westerly winds made the water very choppy early in the day, but when the wind direction changed to westerly the lake became dangerous.
The regatta organisers were forced to postpone the regatta programme at 3 p.m., after completing 43 races of the 64 race programme. An hour later the organisers announced that the regatta programme was officially cancelled - except for the men's senior one eights.
Garda took back the title they last won seven years ago, beating pre-race favourites UCC by one length after a superb contest. UCC have had a surprisingly good season so far, and finished ahead of Garda at the London head of the river. But the tables were turned this time. Six crews took part: Skibbereen/Muckross, a junior composite, Garda, Commercial, a Cork/Neptune composite and UCC. Garda went into a lead after 200 metres and gradually increased their lead to one length with 200 metres to go. UCC came from last position to finish second.
Castleconnell won the feature event, the men's senior three eights, at the Fermoy sprint regatta yesterday at sun-drenched Fermoy. Neptune were second, and St Michael's from Limerick third. Castleconnell also completed a double by winning the men's senior three coxed fours.
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