Sport comes in many shapes and sizes and while most interest and focus gathers around big events like Saturday’s Six Nations showdown there are always opportunities for smart corporate involvement in some of the more niche events.
These can work well in terms of creating an environment of innovation around the workplace and also in very targeted promotion to young audiences that will be coming into the workplace over the coming years.
One of those events that tick the boxes takes place this weekend but runs without any appreciable financial corporate support. Without doubt that should be different in 2015.
The 2014 Dublin University Boat Races between Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin takes place on the River Liffey this Sunday, March 16th as part of the official St Patrick’s Festival.
The course runs from O’Connell Bridge to St James’ Gate Brewery, starting at 9.30am with the Novice Women, followed by the Novices Men’s race at 10am.
The Senior Women’s race, for the Corcoran Cup, will be contested at 10:30am. For one of the rowers, Susannah Cass, this is just the first test in a summer of rowing adventures. Susannah will be racing across the Irish Sea in the Celtic Challenge race in May, before heading off to make history as a competitor in the world’s first Pacific Ocean rowing race – a 2,400 mile challenge from California to Hawaii.
Finally the senior men’s race, the Gannon Cup, will be contested at 11am. The race is in its 67th year having been founded in 1947 in memory of former UCD Captain Ciaran Gannon, who lost his life in Burma in 1944.
UCD have dominated the event in recent years and will be hoping to make this their 7th consecutive win with the help of a strong crew of promising young athletes including World Under 23 silver medallist Niall Kenny.
Trinity made a good start to this year’s campaign, winning the coin toss hosted at Leinster House by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and choosing to race on the North station in both the men’s and women’s races.
Spectator buses will follow the races and depart from the O’Connell Bridge.
“There are many opportunities for business to become involved in an event that is steeped in tradition, garners interest from the highest levels of politics and society and which gives equal billing to the Men’s and Women’s races said Colm Daly, Ireland Managing Director of Sport for Business member APCO Ireland and President of the UCD Rowing Club.
If you would like to explore ways of getting involved in next year’s event contact rob@sportsforbusiness2.ab6z.com for a introduction to the organising committee and pop down to the river on Sunday to imagine what 2015 could be like.
