Fresh from our victory at colours this year, UCD Windsurf club played host to the ‘Windsurfing Intervarsities 2011’.

Over 80 students converged on a little village called Downings in County Donegal. It was a new location to host the IVs after it was a success for a slalom series event last summer. Everyone was on the beach early on Saturday morning to make the most of the good conditions. We all gathered under the Red Bull tent to hear the plan of action for the weekend.  As always, there were beginners clinics provided for those who were still struggling to get started or just wanted to give it a go. There was a land demonstration by English free styler John Palmer.

The growing interest in the sport was evident in the large number of beginners who were divided up into groups to try their hand at windsurfing. An intermediate clinic was run by Dave Garvey to help those wanting to improve their planning and start carve gybing. Lunch was provided for everyone on the beach, with soup and sandwiches to warm the frozen hands. After lunch it was decided to make the most of the wind and run the races then instead of on Sunday when it looked like there was going to be no wind. There was a very high standard in the bronze fleet even though many only started recently. The silver fleet heats were run alternating with the bronze fleet. Competitors who finished first and second in the heats advanced into the final on Sunday. There was barely a puff of wind by early evening so it was time to call it a day, leaving everyone plenty of time to turn into some form of cartoon character for that night’s social. Everyone met up again for a buffet dinner in The Downings Bay Hotel.

After a later start on Sunday, the finalists rigged up for their races. With unexpected winds much stronger than forecast on Saturday, conditions were challenging to the bronze and most of the silver fleet.  The directly on shore winds left a few competitors walking some of the race. Congratulations to UCD’s Ruth Martin who finished a very honourable 3rd place in the bronze fleet. Next up was the highly competitive silver fleet in which Peadar Golden from TCD flew in finishing miles ahead of the rest. The gold fleet had to wait all weekend to compete but they were lucky as conditions were excellent for them. They ran 2 heats and a final using a longer and more challenging course. 

UCD at last achieved victory as captain Kevin Kelly sailed home in first position earning the title as Ireland’s best student windsurfer! However, all the preparation wasn’t enough to fight off UL who came first overall and took the cup home again this year. Congratulations to all competitors from UCD who successfully managed to secure a very respectable second overall position for the club. It was a fantastic weekend! Well done to all the UCD Windsurf Committee who organised everything and made IVs 2011 all come together. A big thanks must go out to all the sponsors and to everyone who ventured up to Donegal for a brilliant weekend!

Results:

Bronze: 1- Terry O' Shea UL, 2- Cian Maloney UL, 3- Ruth Martin UCD

Silver:   1- Peadar Golden TCD, 2- Rob O'Rourke UL, 3- Nigel Wearen UL

Gold:    1- Kevin Kelly UCD, 2- Sean Dillane NUIG, 3- Gregor McGuckin GMIT

Overall College: 1- UL, 2- UCD, 3- TCD