Kayaking Intervarsities 2025

Friday was an early start for our whitewater and boater cross team as we all got up at 5am to be out of the house by 5.30. Kayaks were brought to the drop-off point and everyone got into their gear.  A shuttle was ran and safety briefs were given. Safety got onto the water and took their places on the river around 7am. UG and ATU Galway safety members did an excellent job and their cheering really helped our paddlers perform to their highest standards. Whitewater teams got on around 8am and the race ran smoothly. UG team performed outstandingly, and came off the water super happy.

Overall in whitewater UG came 4th

Daniel Tiernan came 8^th with a time 5:48:570 earing 72 points

Cian Molloy came 9^th with a time of 5:48:570 earning 68 points

Anna Tiernan came 9^th with a time of 6:23:870 earning 63.3 points

Muireann Van Nieuwenhove came 12^th with a time of 6:35:220 earning 50 points

Later on in the afternoon the boatercross began with UG team again performing marvelously. Boatercross was a very challenging course involving a ramp and splat wall. By the end of a long day the laughter and happiest radiated of all the kayakers.

Overall in boatercross, UG came 5th

Doireann Ní Mhórdha came 3rd Place Round 3.2 earning 50 points

Megan Gamble came 3rd Place Round 3.3 earing 50 points

Hannah Comber came 3rd Place Round 1.2 earning 10 points

Sean Noonan came 4th Place Round 3.3 earning 50 points

Fabio Mooney Garcia came 3rd Place Round 2.5 earning 25 points

Aaron Cummins came 3rd Place Round 1.2 earning 10 points

Saturday was a later start of 7.30am, to be at the river for registration at 8.00am. The first category of events was long distance which was broken down into small categories for different styles of kayaks. The Canadian race was first, with the 2 UG paddlers working together like a dream team creating a lot of speed.

Rory McEvoy and Mark Nugget came 4^th with a time of 00:22:30 earning 12 points

Next was the sea kayak race with UG performing excellently, coming of the water with big grins but exhausted.

Cian Molloy came 3^rd with a time of 00:40:04 earning 15 points

Hannah Comber came 5^th with a time of 01:04:06 earning 5 points

Muireann Van Nieuwenhove came 6^th with a time of 01:04:06 earning 1 point

Our duo kayakers performed extremely well, just as they trained. UG kayakers just seem to be naturally excellent kayakers.

Jack Reidy and Colm Sheeran came 4^th with a time of 00:23:55 earning 9 points

In Hp Lorcan Craven-Grace came 6^th with a time of 00:43:57  earing 8 points

Our GP male and female kayakers paddled at very fast speeds with them all coming off the water tired and extremely thrilled with themselves.  Overall in long distance, UG came 4th

Daniel Tiernan came 9^th with a time 00:20:18 earing 12 points

Oisin Naughton came 42 with a time of 00:25:16

Eamon Gallagher came 43 with a time of 00:25:17

Aaron Cummins came 44 with a time of 00:25:30

Anna Tiernan came 7^th with a time of 00:21:39 earning 13 points

Megan Gamble came 15^th with a time of 00:22:54 earning 6 points

Holly Byrne came 22^nd with a time of 00:24:28

Caitríona NicDhonnchadha came 23^rd with a time of 00:24:34

Doireann Ni Mhordha came 31^st with a time of 00:25:21

Laoise McHale came 35^th with a time of 00:26:25

Grace Golden came 41^st with a time of 00:27:45

Jenny McCloskey came 42^nd with a time of 00:27:52

Seoda Ní Raghallaigh came 43^rd with a time of 00:28:02

Kate Ní Ghacháin came 44^th with a time of 00:28:05

Jaimie Donovan came 56^th with a time of 00:30:49

Lola Jordan Beristain came 60^th with a time of 00:31:32

Don’t forget our safety members who were on the water all day cheering us all on. They kept the kayakers safe and their cheering encouraged each kayaker to keep going. All paddlers got lunch to fuel themselves for the afternoon of freestyle and cheering.

UG freestyle team had excellent runs and their happiness was clearly evident. The rest of UG who were not on the team were on the bank chanting and cheering them on. The support was 10 out of 10. If there was a prize for the most supportive colleg,e UG would win it. Overall UG came 4^th in freestyle.

Sean Noonan came 6^th earning 86 points with a score of 892.5

Daniel Tiernan came 10^th earning 76 points with a score of 740

Cian Molloy came 12^th earning 70 points with a score of 612.5

Anna Tiernan came 10^th earning 72 points with a score of 342.5

Jenny McCloskey came 12^th earning 66 points with a score of 307.5

Holly Byrne came 15^th earning 56 points with a score of 230

Sunday was polo and the team were at the pool for 8am. The first game went their way, allowing them to win it. However in their second and third games, UG played teams who were extremely skilled, and unfortunately lost these games. Overall, UG came 5^th in polo.

Later that evening the award ceremony occurred. Every kayaker did the university proud over the weekend.  Overall, UG came 5^th in varsities with 300 points.