Last weekend GMIT Kayak and Canoe Club, Castlebar, made history by hosting the 2012 Kayaking Intervarsities for the first time. Eighteen colleges attended, and approximately 500 students from all over the country made their way to Castlebar with trailers packed full of colourful boats.
Friday’s events kicked off with the canoe polo held on Lough Conn in Crossmolina. The competitors arrived for the clash of the paddles to prove they had what it takes to win the title of Canoe Polo Champions 2012, which was claimed by GMIT after a hard fought win over DCU in the final.
Saturday commenced with the whitewater event on the Clydagh River, where each college was represented by four paddlers who had to make their way down the river as fast as possible, the title was claimed by UL.
The second event on Saturday was the freestyle competition held on Tuam Wave on the River Clare, which was the perfect location for spectators to view the tricks and skills of some of the finest freestyle paddlers our country has to offer.
The Kayaking Intervarsities drew to an epic close at Lough Lannagh with the long distance event which had the largest number of competitors taking place. The overall winners to the 2012 Kayaking Intervarsities were University of Limerick and next year’s Kayaking Intervarsities will be held by the proud winners in Limerick.
Mayo sailing club hosted Irish Intervarsity competition
Rosmoney was the location for the Irish Intervarsity Sailing Championships last week. The purpose of the Intervarsity competitions is to promote and develop the sport in third level in Ireland with the participation of the 26 third level colleges throughout the country.
Some 200 students flocked to Westport on Wednesday. They took to the water from Thursday to Sunday packing in 70 – 80 team races each day with enthusiasm, skill, and determination.
Busy few weeks for Westport swimming club
It has been a busy few weeks for the Westport Swimming Club with members taking part in events in Limerick, Sligo, and in Dublin. Five of the club swimmers took part in a gala in Limerick that attracted 650 swimmers from all over the country. The five Westport swimmers who took part were Aaron Doherty, Alice Shortall, Caoimhe O’Flynn, Dearbhail McNamara, and Ella Burns. McNamara and Burns came home with hard earned medals. McNamara grabbed two silvers in the 200 metre breaststroke and the 50 metre breaststroke, while Burns also won silver in the 50m breaststroke final and a bronze in the 200m breaststroke.
Both represented the Sacred Heart School in the All-Ireland Senior Schools finals in the Aer Lingus Pool at Dublin Airport last week. Both girls swam in the 100m breaststroke finals with McNamara also swam in the 10m IM and took three seconds off her personal best time.
Five Westport swimmers travelled to Sligo last weekend to take part in a gala, and all five had a very productive day and came home having achieved personal best times and medals.
