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goal scoring machines of Trinity and DIT. This<br />
set up an eagerly awaited re-match between<br />
Trinity and DIT. Trinity won their initial meeting<br />
so could DIT upset the odds? The answer was<br />
yes but it wasn’t easy and they were made to<br />
work very hard for their win. Normal time<br />
finished with a draw which resulted in golden<br />
goal. This went right down to the wire with<br />
either team refusing to give an inch. All<br />
seemed to be over for DIT when Trinity were<br />
gifted a golden opportunity to seal the win but<br />
failed to convert. The final few minutes were<br />
pulsating and with less than 10secs on the<br />
clock a shot from the corner squeezed past<br />
the Trinity defence and into the net. DIT came<br />
through an exhilarating final to claim the polo<br />
spoils.<br />
All that was left was to reveal the winners.<br />
Varsity titles over the last decade were few<br />
and far between for many colleges with UL<br />
going for their 9th title in a row. Before the<br />
overall winners could be revealed there were<br />
some very important trophies to be given out.<br />
The Best Female Paddler was awarded to<br />
Jayne Stevens (UCD), best Male Paddler was<br />
awarded to Simon Grennell (UCD), Evan<br />
McArdle Award was presented to the NUIG<br />
Freestyle team for their tribute to David<br />
Higgins and the most Improved Club award<br />
was presented to DIT where they went away<br />
with a stylish EXO creeker. All that was left was<br />
to announce the winners and would anyone be<br />
able to dethrone UL and break their<br />
long-standing streak? As results were<br />
announced it became apparent that 2018<br />
would have a new winner for the first time in<br />
nearly a decade. In third place was DIT, second<br />
place NUIG/GMIT and first place (drum roll<br />
please...) UCD! The battle for the title went<br />
down to the absolute wire with eventually<br />
2.5pts separating first and second place. This<br />
was the first Varsity title for UCD in 25 years<br />
and it was thoroughly deserved.<br />
Big congratulations to all the winners and the<br />
way everyone admirable represented the sport<br />
both on and off the water over the course of<br />
the weekend. A shout out to the Cadet School<br />
who competed in the Kayaking Inter-Varsities<br />
for the first time where they represented their<br />
college in both Long Distance and Polo. The<br />
Varsities community looks forward to them<br />
competing in future. Of course this weekend<br />
would not have been possible without the hard<br />
work and determination of a solid committee<br />
who put in nearly a year’s work to get the 2018<br />
Inter-Varsities up and running. This 3 day<br />
event was run by first time organisers and<br />
great credit must go to how smooth the<br />
weekend.<br />
Until next year - Varsities Out!!!<br />
Check out the link below to watch the video<br />
of the weekend.<br />
https://www.facebook.com/ucdkayakintervar<br />
sities2018/videos/404032203356778/<br />
THE LIFFEY DESCENT<br />
FOREWORD FROM SHANE CRONIN<br />
Pictured: Darragh Clarke<br />
The modern day Liffey Descent hasn’t really changed a whole lot in its almost 60 year history. The<br />
communities & landscape that bank the River Liffey racecourse have changed, some would say<br />
immeasurably. That aside the iconic event that the race has become on the international stage is<br />
indisputable.<br />
We are in very auspicious company with other international world class descent races, the Krumlovsky, Ardeche, Adige,<br />
Dusi & Berg, the unique challenge that the Liffey Descent race course offers is part of that attraction. The other<br />
attractions of course are the almost guaranteed water levels and the Irish welcome.<br />
So what can we expect from the 2018 race?<br />
So this years race takes place 15th September which is strategically placed a week after the ICF Canoe Marathon World<br />
Championships in Portugal. Early indications are strong that given the close proximity of Dublin to Portugal and the<br />
reasonable transfer costs that we will have a strong international entry, we already have some in!<br />
The race is also the first in the 2018/2019 Canoe Marathon Classic Series which has another attraction to international<br />
competitors. See more here: https://www.canoeicf.com/canoe-marathon-classic-series<br />
Iain MacClean competed in his 50th Liffey Descent last year and we marked the significant achievement with a specially<br />
commissioned presentation from Dublin Crystal. I asked him to write a piece on what the Liffey Descent mean to him, I<br />
hope you enjoy it.<br />
Don’t forget to engage with us on all our social platforms and share your Liffey Descent experiences with us!<br />
Thought ideas or suggestions for the Liffey Descent? Send them to liffeydescent@canoe.ie<br />
S≠ C∋n,<br />
Race Coordinator<br />
18<br />
19
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