Poor weather blamed for low-key event

Heavy overnight rain combined with a poor entry conspired to yield a low-key Trinity regatta at Islandbridge on Saturday.

A large refrigerator and a couple of tree bows floated down on the flood early in the day to set the tone. Appropriately perhaps, given the incessant rain in the morning and early afternoon, only Garda novice crews took part due to the "blue flu".

Trinity's expected clash with Neptune in the senior one eights failed to materialise: the hosts beat Commercial in the final by two lengths, having begun to pull clear at 500 metres. The controversy of the day had come in the semi-final between Neptune and Commercial when the favourites came temporarily to a halt, apparently mistaking the ringing of a bicycle bell on the bank for the official signal to stop.

Trinity's James Lupton won the single sculls final, beating Neil Casey of Neptune in the final. Casey later went on to beat club-mate Terry Smith in the senior three single sculls final.

But the award for the most game competitor of the day goes to UCD's Con Collis. The novice single sculler, caught by the swell, fell into the water at the start of a heat, but somehow managed to climb back into the boat. After apologising to all, he went on the row the race - and, in a suitably romantic ending, won the final.