Skibbereen Regatta. Day 1

Day two of the three day race weekend is over. UCCRC have added four more wins to their season so far. It was a relatively late start with the first race of the day at 1130. The intermediate women were first off racing in their singles. With 29 racing the first task was to make sure they made the top 18 and therefore race in the finals. This was achieved with Roisin and Deirdre facing off against each other in the C final and Saoirse and Niamh in the B final. Saoirse frustrated to be 2 seconds off the Intermediate winner who raced in the A final. The finals had some excellent races with  Roisin stepping it on in the second half to win the C final. Saoirse took control of her race too, putting the loss yesterday well behind her.
In the men's singles there were 66 entries. Again the first task for the lads was to ensure they got into the top 18 and thus race again. Andy, Justin and Stephen did this in blustery conditions. Stephen putting himself in with a shot at the Intermediate win in the B final and Justin and Andy taking each other on in the A final for the senior win.
Stephen's B final was a great race with several scullers fighting it out to the finish. Stephen just missed out on the B final win but secured the Intermediate medal. Andy and Justin were down the track next, as the race moved into the second quarter Andy opened out his long levers to move out in front with U23 international Shane O'Driscoll, current top ranked junior David O'Malley and Justin at his heels. Under attack Andy stayed long and effective taking a great win with Justin coming in 4th. 1st, 4th and 7th in a field of 66. Well done UCCRC.

The afternoon racing saw UCCRC's men's and women's quads taking to the water. First off were the ladies whose heat was a close run thing with Skibbereen. The men also had a close run with a composite crew. The finals would require tired legs to step up to the challenge. The ladies took a lead over their intermediate rivals in the first half and held them off to win another intermediate medal- yesterday it was sweep, today sculling. The men held of the composite crew to win by half a length in the last race of the day. Fantastic commitment from both crews who have now raced six or seven flat out 2k's over the last 36 hours.