Lagan race still excites

ROWING: THE UNIVERSITY Boat Race, an annual match in Belfast between Queen’s University and Trinity, is living proof that traditions grow up in unlikely ways.

Launched initially as the Lomac Tiles Boat Race, the brainchild of Jim McMullan of the eponymous company, it seemed set to live (if it lived at all) in the shadow of the annual Trinity-UCD colours race in Dublin.

Lomac discontinued sponsorship two years ago, but the race had generated enough excitement to outlive the initial thrust. The launch of this year’s race in Belfast yesterday drew an array of media interest, particularly from Northern Ireland.

The races themselves, on June 13th on the Lagan, have a few real selling points. Trinity’s dominance in recent years in the men’s senior eight might have choked off their rival’s hopes, but instead it seems to have heightened them.

“They won it for the last four years on the trot, so there’s huge pressure on us to get a performance,” said Queen’s coach, Mark Fangen-Hall yesterday. He expects to have a full-strength crew available.

Trinity’s profile has been very different. The high point of a ‘Big Pot’ win at the Irish National Championships last year has been succeeded by a season in which the emphasis has been on building a new crew.

Only club captain Ali Floyd remained from that winning Championship crew for the early season, although Eoin Mac Domhnaill did row in the colours race in Dublin, where they were defeated by UCD.

Mark Pattison, the Trinity coach, said yesterday that he was leaving selection until much closer to the race. There are a number of encouraging signs for Trinity, not least the return of Ulster man Eoin Kerlin, who has been a regular in this race.

Floyd has now taken the step up to international level – he will team up with Rory O’Connor in the under-23 double scull at Essen regatta this weekend – but, depending on his commitments in the green vest he may be available to race on the Lagan on June 13th.

Trinity’s women have had a fine run under coach Andrew Coleman, and will be favourites to beat Queen’s in the senior eights.