Colours races return to old course for tight contest

ROWING ROUND-UP:THE GANNON Cup, the annual colours race between UCD and Trinity, returns to its traditional, crowd-pleasing course tomorrow afternoon between O'Connell Bridge and St James's Gate (3.30 pm). The contest is one of the most unpredictable in years.

Last year’s flirtation with the DDDA and a course nearer the sea did not end in a lasting relationship. The race was memorable mostly for the sight of distant crews battling it out in the dull light of evening.

For UCD the win was the key thing, and it set them up for a possible three-in-a-row tomorrow. Four of last year’s unit return – Tom Doyle, Finbarr Manning, Dave Neale and Anthony English – as part of a crew which is reportedly training well. However, their one competitive outing this season, at Lagan Head of the River, saw them outclassed by Queen’s University.

Two of Trinity’s planned outings this year fell victim to the weather (St Michael’s head) and logistical problems (Lagan), and when they did compete, at Carrick-on Shannon, they crashed.

Coach Mark Pattison says the match-up tomorrow is unknown territory, but his crew is “solid”.

In fact, Trinity may be a bit more than solid. Charlie Landale, Paul Dunphy (in for the ill Lorcain Cameron), Peter Croke, Rob Mawn and Ali Floyd all return from last year.

One man with first-hand experience of winning three successive Gannon Cups is Trinity’s senior women’s coach, Andrew Coleman, who completed the feat from 1997 to 1999. His crew for the Corcoran Cup women’s race (3pm) has six returnees from the side which broke UCD’s dominance last year, including the stroke pairing of Iseult Finn and Sarah Dolan, who have been pushing for a place in the Ireland set-up this season.

UCD have strong competitors in Laura Gannon and three returnees from last year, Claire Lambe, Laura O’Brien and Bronwyn Lait, who will stroke the boat. The programme for the day includes support races at 2pm and 2.30pm.

Far away from the cheering crowds, Sean McGowan and his craft Tess have amassed their own support group on their Atlantic row. A group of pilot whales has repeatedly surrounded them.

“I’m calling my boat Tess’s takeaway,” he jokes. “I think they’re coming back for the fish.

“They basically surround the boat, going around in circles, blowing bubbles. When you’re in the boat it’s like a jacuzzi. They come up underneath, and then start diving and coming after the fish. It’s pretty amazing, actually.”

He has not been overly worried about the presence of animals which can be six metres long and “cause quite a stir”, but on Wednesday morning they spent longer than usual.

“They were there for an hour and a half. I was hoping it was the fish they were after.”

He has had to strap his hands onto the oars again in recent days as they have “gone downhill”. “They’re very painful, very sore.”

He had a good following wind yesterday of force three to five and was making appreciable progress towards Antigua as he moved into his 60th day at sea.

Olympian Gearoid Towey, who attempted to row the Atlantic in 2005/2006 only to have to abandon after a capsize, has spoken to him a number of times. “He’s been very helpful. It’s been hard going, but I’ll keep the head down and the heart up,” said McGowan.

GANNON CUP (Senior Men) – UCD:Tom Doyle, Anthony English, Richard Murray, Colm Pierce, David Neale, Finbarr Manning, Andrew Neale, Peter Grogan; cox: Loic Belletre. Trinity: Charles Landale, Paul Dunphy, Peter Croke, Rob Mawn, Steve Lowe, Ali Floyd, Patrick Jacques, Fionn McCaffrey; cox: Rebecca Crowley.

CORCORAN CUP (Senior Women) – Trinity:Katie Condon, Niamh Murphy, Siofra Bennett, Rebecca Deasey, Caoimhe Proud-Murphy, Susannah Cass, Iseult Finn, Sarah Dolan; cox: Rachel Nazarin. UCD: Neva Noone, Claire Lambe, Amy Bulman, Laura Gannon, Laura O'Brien, Kate Lorigan, Susan Harkin, Bronwyn Lait. Cox: Jenni Lynch.