The UL Rowing Club earned its first scalp at the Senior Men’s level at the national championship level this year with a win in the men’s Senior Quadruple Scull in July.
The composite boat of Liam Rice (Mech Eng) and Stephen Penny (Sports Science) raced with two local schoolboys from Castleconnell Boat Club, Adrian Sheehan and  Dave Quinlan to take the title over the much fancied Skibbereen boat which contained a former ULRC rower. Along the way the ULRC rowers beat this years favourites – Queens University and former champions Carlow Rowing Club.

ULRC led from the start and fought hard to retain control with the well favoured Queens only marginally behind for much of the first 700 meters of the 2000 meter course. By half way Queens had passed UL and then so did Carlow, but the big men of UL were always comfortable to be able to up their game in the third quarter of the race.

The battle was hard fought and the winning margin was less than one second but the experience and skill of the ULRC rowers coupled with the determined, focused attitude of the Castleconnell youths would determine that the most deserved crew on the day were victorious.

There were some impressive performances by the Womens team also with a third place finish in the women’s novice four. The crew were always up against the odds against Trinity, whom they had not beaten all year but with the tough training regime supervised by Lead Women’s coach Rachel Meehan the crew speed had seriously increased. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to overcome Trinity. However, in a completely unexpected turn of events, NUIG (a crew that ULRC had beaten several times) had a surprisingly good race and claimed the womens Novice fours championship.

Great result for ULRC.