ROWING:THE Run4Mark in the Dark event will bring thousands on to the streets of cities in Ireland and beyond tonight. The charity run for adventurer Mark Pollock has proved so popular that the organisers have had to close the entry for the biggest race, in Trinity College tonight (7.30) after more than 1,500 signed up.
Cork, Galway and Belfast will also stage runs, and the organisers confirmed yesterday there will be 10 other runs outside Ireland. Supporters from California to Sydney and Hong Kong have weighed in to run for Pollock.
The Northern Irishman went blind in his early 20s, but continued to row for Trinity College. He carved out a niche as an adventurer and motivational speaker. He was part of a team which reached the South Pole.
Last year, however, he broke his back in a fall at Henley Royal Regatta, and has had to have ongoing treatment. For more details go to www.run4mark.com
The Trinity College Sports Centre staged the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships on Sunday and UCD rower Dave Neale (23) was, the fastest competitor. Forty-year-old Evgenii Trofimov of Marine Technical University rowing club, won the 40-49 category with one of the best times of the day, six minutes 7.6 seconds.
The women’s open title also went to UCD, through Amy Bulman, but Jessica O’Keeffe’s winning time of seven minutes 19.3 seconds in the under-23 category made the St Michael’s competitor the fastest woman.
IRISH INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS,Trinity College, Sunday (Selected Results) Men Open: D Neale (UCD) 6:01.5. Under-23: D Brett (Neptune) 6:18.4. Age 30-39: P Buchanan (PaddyPower) 6:11.8. 40-49: E Trofimov (Marine Technical University) 6:07.6. 50-59: G D'Urso (City of Derry) 6:36.6. 60-69: M Sherwood (Chichester Chariots) 7:01.5. Junior 18: S Quigley (Athlone) 6:42.2. Jun 16: D Hazley (Neptune) 6:35.6. Lightweight – Open: P Healy 6:22.1. Under-23: C Barrett (UCD) 6:31.9. 30-39: F Geraghty (NUIG) 6:26.3. 40-49: S Callaghan (Steepholme Pirates) 6:37.6. 50-59: G Murphy (Portora) 6:57.5. 60-69: E Winterbottom (Coleraine LC) 7:09.8. Junior 18: C Beck (RBAI) 6:45.0.
Women – Open: A Bulman (UCD) 7:20.1. Under-23: J O'Keeffe (St Michael's) 7:19.3. 30-39: S Laivina 8:07.3. 40-49: J Lee (Arklow) 7:36.9. 50-59: J Hicks 7:58.6. Junior 18: H O'Sullivan (St Michael's) 7:30.3. Jun 16: H McCarthy (St Michael's) 7:34.3. Lightweight – 30-39: K Curran (St Michael's, Dun Laoghaire) 8:22.1. Junior 18: A Leahy (St Michael's) 7:53.4
