Dublin University Boat Club (DUBC) rower Turlough Hughes came first in the Dublin Sculling Ladder on Saturday, with former member of Dublin University Ladies’ Boat Club (DULBC) Hazel O’Neill finishing as the fastest woman rower in a competition that sees men and women compete in the same category.
O’Neill, who studied medicine, started rowing for Trinity in 2010 as a novice and now competes for Commercial Rowing Club. This is her second win at the Dublin Sculling Ladder, her first win coming in her final year of college in 2015. O’Neill finished with a time of seven minutes and 23 seconds. Last summer O’Neill won the Women’s Lightweight Pair at Women’s Henley as well as securing second place in the Women’s Senior Pair at the Irish National Championships.
In an email statement to The University Times, DULBC captain Susie O’Neill said: “Her win on Saturday was highly impressive but hugely deserved owing to her quiet dedication and ability to balance work and training.”
“She is a fantastic example of someone who took up rowing as an open-minded fresher and ended up excelling in the sport, being testament to what we keep saying: that rowing is one of the few sports one can take up in college and be highly competitive in.”
Hughes, who is currently studying for a PhD in engineering, started rowing during his time at King’s Hospital. Before coming to Trinity, he rowed for University College Dublin (UCD). Hughes beat Niall Beggan with a time of six minutes and 32 seconds. Beggan is a two-time medallist at the Under-23 World Championships. Hughes is the first member of DUBC to win the Dublin Sculling Ladder.
In an email statement to The University Times, DUBC Chief Rowing Coach Richard Ruggieri said: “We are thrilled for Turlough – he has been close to winning this event for years, and today he finally came good and took the title, cementing his place as Dublin’s best sculler.”
“We now turn our attention to the Head of the Charles in Boston next week which is a major opportunity to showcase Trinity Rowing on the global stage.”
The Dublin Sculling Ladder is an upstream, 1,800-metre race. The event has run since 1966.
