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                                     SUMMER BARBEQUE &

Garda Rowing Competition

Friday 6^th August 10

All members and partners and friends are invited to our Annual Rowing Competition & Barbeque at the Clubhouse, Islandbridge on Friday 6^th August next.

The rowing events will commence at 6 p.m. followed by a barbeque. Tickets available at the door at €15 each. 

A limited number of rooms are available at the Ashhling Hotel at €109 per double and €89 per single room with breakfast. Tel: 01 6772324.

ANNUAL MASS FOR DECEASED MEMBERS OF GARDA BOAT CLUB

Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Garda Boat Club on Friday 9th July at 7 p.m. for the deceased members of the club and in particular Tom Kelly (former Secretary) who died last February and Bill Somers (former Captain) who died recently.

Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Denis Ryan S.M.A. followed by a 'social evening'

All current members and former members are invited to attend

PRESENTATION TO BRENDAN DUANE

At the annual Christmas Dinner at the Garda Boat Club on 17th December a presentation of a specially commissioned piece of 'Bog Oak' was presented to Brendan Duane by Assistant Commissioner Dermot Jennings, President of the Garda Boat Club to acknowledge his association with the club for the past fifty years as an oarsman and coach.  A native of Galway, Brendan joined An Garda Siochana in 1958 and started rowing with the club in 1959. He was a member of the unbeaten Maiden eight that won the maiden and junior championships as well as the inter-provincial champuionship before going on to win the senior eight championship in 1966.

He was club captain in 1971 and 1972 and a vice captain in 1964. He coached crews from 1971 to the present day including seven senior championship winning crews, five intermediate championship and thirteen novice championship winning crews. He also coached the senior eight in 1975 that won the Thames Cup at Henley - the first since 1903. He also coached the senior four that won the  Prince Philip Cup at Henley in 1977 and 1979 and Caroline Ryan who won the Princess Royal Cup in 2008.

Brendan also coached our senior four who won the petite final at the Olympic Games in Montreal and our coxless pair - Willie Ryan and Pat Gannon who also finished 7th at the Olympics in Moscow in 1980.

Speaking at the presentation, Willie Ryan said - Brendan Duane's contribution to the sport of rowing in Ireland is second to none. He is to rowing as Alex Ferguson is to football, Declan Kidney is to rugby and Mick O'Dwyer is to the GAA.

GARDA CREWS CLASH AT TRINITY REGATTA

Following their success in the preliminary rounds of the novice fours event, Garda 'A' met Garda 'B' in a mouth watering semi-final at Trinity Regatta on Saturday the 18th of April '09. Having dispensed with challenges from U.C.D. and the Defence Forces, both crews lined up against each other, with the winning crew advancing to the final. In a very exciting race there was little between the two crews over the body of the course. However, it was Garda 'B' who pulled ahead at the finish to win a place in the final against Dublin University. The final went down to the last few strokes with the hosts emerging victorious by just over one second. Afterwards, Club Captain Liam Tobin said "we are very happy with their progress. The crew have improved since our last outing at Neptune regatta. With a bit of hard work we should be well in contention for the race that matters at the National Championships in July"

CHRISTMAS PARTY

AT THE

GARDA BOAT CLUB

THURSDAY, 17^th DECEMBER, ‘09, AT 7.30 pm

Dinner served at 8.00 pm

Limited Number Of Tickets

Available At 25euro each

CONTACT

Brian Farrell -Tel: 087 9555500          Brian Hoey - Tel: 086 8206900

   Diarmuid O'Donovan - Tel: 087 6232089    Liam Tobin - 087 8160648

GARDA OARSWOMAN SELECTED FOR TRACK CYCLING

Garda Caroline Ryan, Pearse Street Station, who is currently the Irish Sculling Champion and winner of the Princess Royal Challenge Cup at Henley in 2008, has been selected for Cycling Ireland Route 2012 Track Cycling Training Camp in Switzerland, next month (December 2008).

The Irish Cycling Federation in partnership with the Irish Sports Council and Sport Northern Ireland are introducing a talent transfer programme, ‘Route 2012’, to find athletes with the potential to make an Irish Track Cycling team bidding for London 2012 Olympic qualification.

Talent Transfer is about the recognition of athletes who already possess highly developed physical attributes and skills and have the potential to transfer these talents to another sport.

Cycling Ireland are targeting athletes who have a proven track record of performance at international level or at the highest standard nationally, preferably in endurance based sports. 

Previously an Olympic silver medallist at the Athens Games in Rowing, Rebecca Romero made the switch to Track Cycling and four years later is the new Olympic Champion, having won gold on the track at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Romero also won gold earlier this year at the track cycling world championships.

Cycling Ireland plan to take young men and women with a background of sports training and competition at a high level and provide them with the opportunity and environment to transfer their skills to Track Cycling. 

Athletes who thought they met the criteria were invited to attend the Route 2012 testing to see whether they were suitable for a potential career in Track Cycling.  Track cycling is described as being exciting, explosive and fast.  It provides the ultimate mental and physical challenge.

Caroline attended the initial test at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin in September.  She was placed 2^nd overall and was invited to attend the 2^nd phase test at the Athlone Regional Sports Centre in the middle of November.  Following her performance in the 2^nd test, Caroline has been selected for the next phase of testing which is a three day intensive track session, on a 200m wooden indoor track at Aigle in Switzerland, home of the world cycling centre.

Also travelling on the selected team from the Rowing world, is Richard Coakley who was spare man to the Irish Lightweight Coxless Four at the Beijing Olympics.

GOOD PERFORMANCES BY GARDA CREWS

AT BLESSINGTON HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE

The Garda senior coxless four got off to a good start to the season with an excellent win at the Neptune run Head of the River race on Saturday last at Blessington Lake in a time of 13minutes. This result is very encouraging when you consider this was the first competition in a new combination which includes former under 23 International oarsmen - Student Gardai Paul O'Brien and Niall Kenny with Damien Kelly (stroke) and Karl McKenna (bow)  UCD came second (13.23) and Castleconnell finished third (13.31) In their second race Garda were one second slower (13.01)

Caroline Ryan won the single sculls race in a time of 15 mins 55secs ahead of Old Collegians (Savita Puspure) a former Latvian rower (16.11) In the Double Scull, Kieran and Gearoid Duane were narrowly beaten into second place (13.55) by former International oarsman Sam Lynch and his brother from St Michaels, Limerick (13.38)

In the Intermediate Quad Scull, Garda - Jonathan O'Brien, Eamonn Byrne, Declan O'Keeffe and Kevin Sheehan had a time of 15mins 02secs. In the mens novice eight section, Garda - John Alderors (bow) Brian Daly, Colm Laffan, Daire MacEoin, Declan Manning, Martin Gaffey, Shane Griffin and Philip Murphy coxed by Gerry Conway got off to a good start and finished second in a time of 14mins 22secs to Portora (13.26)

Caroline Ryan competed with Old Collegians (Puspure) in the Senior Double Scull (14.25) and beat Tribesmen (14.44) UCD won both the mens and womens senior eights events.

12th July '08

CAROLINE RYAN WINS GEORGE INNES CUP AT HENLEY WOMEN'S REGATTA

Caroline Ryan had a resounding victory in the George Innes Cup for Elite Single Sculls at the Henley Women's Regatta (June 20 - 22, 2008) which is rowed on the Thames from Temple Island to Remenham Club. Caroline, who is attached to Pearse Street Station in Dublin was the only Irish winner at the regatta which caters for Intermediate, Senior and Elite competitors.

In the first round, Caroline beat Lou Roubottom of Leander Club by five lengths. The semi-final was an all Irish clash with Caroline beating Helen Walshe from U.C.D. by four lengths. In the final, Caroline met her toughest opposition, Hayley Arthur from Roodeplast Rowing Club in South Africa and led by a canvas off the start. Arthur fought back and led by half a length at the end of the Island. As the race progressed, Caroline drew back level and led by a length at the Barrier (640 metres) From there Caroline went on to win by four lengths and has now qualified to compete in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta (July 2 to 6)

The Garda senior four - Damien Kelly, Kieran Duane, Karl McKenna, Gearoid Duane and Lisa Hayden (cox) will also be competing in the Britannia Challenge Cup.

27 April

2008

GOOD PERFORMANCES BY GARDA CREWS AT TRINITY REGATTA

 

The Garda Senior 4+ Damien Kelly (stroke) Gearoid Duane; Karl McKenna and Kieran Duane coxed by Lisa Hayden gave an excellent performance in their first senior competition at Trinity regatta (26/4/2008) when they beat Commercial by 2 lengths in the final.  Commercial took an early lead by ½ a length but under the watchful eye of coach Brendan Duane they drew level and were over a length ahead passing their clubhouse. Earlier in the day they beat Commercial ‘A’ by ½ a length in the semi-final. 

 

In the Women’s Novice 4+ event Garda – Marian Doherty (stroke) Sandra Fitzgerald; Katriona McHale; Beth Hewson coxed by Lisa Hayden beat Neptune in the semi-final and went on to beat UCD in the final by a canvas. In the semi-final of the Women’s Novice 8 event Garda lost to DULBC and the Men’s Novice 8 lost to UCD. In the Men’s Novice 4+ event - Garda – Kevin Sheehan (stroke) David O’Hanlon; Declan O’Keeffe; Ronan Swan coxed by Jonathan O’Brien beat Neptune in the semi-final and lost to UCD by 3 lengths in the final.

 

Paul O’Brien was beaten in the semi-final of the of the senior sculls and Laura Gannon had a row over in the final of the sculling event. Geoghegan (DULBC) did not start.

 

AIB PRIVATE BANKING SPONSOR NEW SCULLING BOAT

A magnificent new sculling boat for the Garda Boat Club presented to the club by AIB Private Banking was formally launched by Mr John Rockett, Head of AIB Private Banking at a ceremony attended  by a party of specially invited guests yesterday (29/6/07) at Islandbridge.   The new sculling boat was built by Empacher in Germany and will be used by Garda Caroline Ryan who is preparing for the next World Cup Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland  (July 13 – 15) The new boat, appropriately named AIB Private Banking was blessed by Rev. Fr. Joe Kennedy, C.P. Mount Argus, Spiritual Advisor to the Gardai.

Speaking at the ceremony, Club President, Deputy Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald said: “the acquisition of this new boat could not have come at a more opportune time as it will carry our senior sculler, Caroline Ryan into International competition at the next World Cup Regatta in Lucerne in  July. The problem of equipment is nowadays a difficult one, especially for amateur athletes like ourselves.  The demands of excellence, not just in the long hard hours of training and the concentrated effort of competition, but in the quality of boats and oars used are not easily met  and without the support of our friends from AIB Private Banking we simply could not afford to buy them. For that reason we are deeply grateful to the management of AIB for their generosity and continued support.  For over twenty five years we in the Garda Boat Club have been generously supported by AIB Bank and we thank them very sincerely. On each occasion our crews have gone from success to success. Caroline is the first female member of An Garda Siochana to represent our club at such a high level of international competition and on behalf of all members I wish her every success”

Mr Leo Larkin, General Manager, Business and Private Banking  said that AIB Private Banking are delighted to be able to support the Garda Boat Club with this new boat and wished Garda Caroline Ryan every success in the future.

 

SUCCESS FOR INTERMEDIATE FOUR IN ATHLONE

The Garda Intermediate Four - Karl McKenna, Kieran Duane, Gearoid Duane,  Damien Kelly and Lisa Hayden, cox beat NUI Galway by over 2 lengths and Athlone into third place in the final at a wet and windy Athlone regatta on Saturday June 16. Karl McKenna also won the Novice scull event.  In the coxless pair event, Garda - Kieran and Gearoid Duane finished second to St Michaels R.C.

On the International scene, Caroline Ryan has been selected to represent Ireland in the single scull at the second world cup regatta in Amsterdam starting on Friday June 22, as part of the Irish team.

 

GARDA CREWS COMPETE AT CORK HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE

At the Cork Head of the River Race on Saturday 4 March 07 Garda BC had two novice crews competing. In the Men's Novice 8 section Garda, in a time of 13mins 01.4secs came second to UCC RC who had a time of 12mins 58.3secs.  In the Women's Novice 8 event Garda, in a time of 14mins 39.3secs came second to UCC RC who had a time of 13mins 34.1secs.  There was a big entry of crews mainly from the southern region with Garda being the only entry in the event from the Dublin region.

Monthly Draw Prizewinners - Go

GARDA COLLEGE ROWING CLUB MAKE HISTORY

28 Jan 06

CAROLINE RYAN AND DUANE BROTHERS
TOPS AT LIMERICK HEAD OF THE RIVER

In a time of 13mins 39secs Caroline Ryan emerged as the winner of the women’s senior sculling race at the Limerick Head of the River at O’Brien’s Bridge (Jan 28) 1min 6secs ahead of Van Nulck from Commercial (14.45) sixteen scullers competed. Gearoid and Kieran Duane put up a very good performance to win the novice pair in 12mins 49secs. almost a minute ahead of Athlone. (13.48)

Garda finished fourth in the novice fours event. In the senior fours event Garda had the fourth fastest time (11.56) forty seven seconds behind the winners, St. Michael’s R.C. Caroline and Helen Walsh from UCD won the women’s double scull event ahead of Tribesmen and Skibbereen. The senior eights event was won by St. Michael’s R.C. ahead of Shannon and Commercial.

3 Jan 06

CAROLINE RYAN’S ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2004/5

Caroline got off to a great start by winning the women’s section of the Dublin Sculling Ladder at Islandbridge in a new course record of 7 minutes 3 seconds in October 2004. This was the first occasion that the women’s winning time was within one minute of the men’s fastest time. Over the next few months she put in some good performances by winning the Cork Head of the River and came second to International Sculler, Sinead Jennings at the Neptune HoR at Blessington. Caroline was unbeaten at Neptune, Castlewellan, Trinity and Dublin Metropolitan regattas during the season.

 At Gent International Regatta in May, Caroline lined up beside eKaterina Karsten, the current Olympic Silver Medallist and Gold Medallist from the Sydney and Atlanta Olympic Games. After an exciting race Caroline won the silver medal in a time of 8 minutes 3 seconds, 11 seconds behind the former Olympic champion. As a result of this performance Caroline was upgraded from senior to elite status by the Henley Regatta Committee where she won the George Inns Cup. This was the first time that an Irish woman won the elite section at the Women’s Henley Regatta. It was also the first time that a father and daughter won at Henley. Her father Willie won the Thames Cup in 1975 and the Prince Philip Cup in 1977 and 1979.

 At Amsterdam International Regatta, Caroline finished second in the repechage to qualify for the ‘A’ final against four of the six finalists who held Gold and Silver medals, which was a major achievement as the other finalists are full time professional athletes. The race was won by eKaterina Karsten from Belarus. Caroline finished in sixth place.

 Her greatest achievement was her victory at the National Championships in Cork in July where she beat the favourite, Heather Boyle from the National Squad in the race of the day by 1 second. Caroline brought the rowing season to a fantastic conclusion by winning the Gold Medal at the Home International at Cardiff. Representing Ireland, she fought off strong opposition from England, Scotland and Wales.

 Caroline also won the Dublin Sculling Ladder in October 2005 and the Indoor Championship in November.

1 July 04

GARDA FOUR BEAT POTOMAC AT HENLEY

In the first round of the Britannia Cup at Henley (30/6/'04) the Garda Intermediate Four gave a sterling performance when they beat Potomac Boat Club, USA by 1 1/4 lengths in 7 mins 52 secs. Garda led from the start against the Americans and had the second fastest time of the day to the barrier (2.10) On Friday they lost to the more experienced Kingston Rowing Club by 3 lengths. The event was won by Molesey Boat Club who beat Nottingham and Union in the final.

26 April '0 4

GARDA FOUR WIN AT TRINITY REGATTA

The Garda Intermediate Four gave a good performance at Trinity Regatta, Islandbridge on Saturday last. John McCarthy, Brian Farrell, Eamon O'Neill and Diarmuid O'Donovan coxed by Denis Casey got a bye to the semi-final and had a comfortable win over UCC 'A' In the final they beat UCC 'B' by 3 lengths. The Garda Novice 8 were beaten by DUBC by 2 lengths. The Garda Intermediate 8 beat Neptune in the semi-final and lost to DUBC in the final by 2 lengths.

5 April 2004

REGATTAS START AT NEPTUNE

The regatta season got off to a flying start at Islandbridge on Saturday 3^rd April, hosted by Neptune.

The Garda novice eight were making their first appearance. In the event they were drawn against the the more experienced favourites, DUBC ‘A’ who beat them by over a minute in the Dublin Head. After a good start, both crews were level passing the Army slip. DUBC then took a lead of ½ a length into the bend and Garda were unable to close the gap and were 1½ lengths behind at the finish. DUBC went on to beat Portadown in the final.

The Garda intermediate four were drawn against Methodist College in the first round. Following an obstruction during the race, the umpire ordered a re-row. Garda were narrowly beaten by a canvas.

The Garda intermediate eight were beaten by St Joseph’s College in a disappointing not yet surprising result. The crew had problems with their preparation due to injuries.

14 May 2003

The High Speed Irish Rowing Challenge - Pictures and report - Go