On Saturday 30th November, DUBC competed at the Rutherford Head. This was an opportunity for new members of the squad to compete against other formidable University clubs for the first time and lay down the gauntlet for the forthcoming season. Due to a high level of illness and injury, the women were forced to withdraw leaving the pressure on the men to perform.
The Rutherford Head has been raced in brutal weather conditions in recent years, with temperatures as low as -7 degrees Celsius. This year however saw excellent racing conditions with mild temperatures and a light tailwind.
Division 1 saw three DUBC men’s eights competing in a strong field. First up was the men’s 1V who finished 3rd overall behind university rivals, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Only several seconds separated the crews, a solid platform to build on. The 2V followed by finishing 7th in the same band, a great position at this point with a promising season ahead of them.
A highlight of Division 1 would have to be the excellent performance of the 3V, who walked away with a beautiful Rutherford head pot, after winning Open Band 3 eights.
Men’s 3rd eight
Division 2 saw DUBC men compete in the Open coxed and coxless fours. A total number of 5 fours competed in this division, demonstrating the technical and versatile skills of squad members. The men’s first coxless four notably won their band, followed by the second four who fought hard down the course, finishing in 9th place in the same band. Meanwhile, the men’s coxed four achieved a solid 2nd place in band 1, followed by two further fours, finishing 5th in the same band and 2nd in band 2, showing equal dedication respectively: promising performances across the board from all DUBC men!
After a fantastic day of racing at the Rutherford Head, the club looks forward to building on this weekend’s experiences and facing the challenges of the forthcoming season. New members arrived with great potential and have integrated into the squad well, adding depth and talent. This puts DUBC in an encouraging position leading into the Christmas break and the highly anticipated training camp in Banyoles, Spain in the New Year.
By Antonia.
Men’s second eight