NUIG host Kayaking Intervarsities

The second biggest canoeing event in Ireland tok place in Galway over Valentine’s weekend. The National Kayaking Intervarsities, hosted by the NUI, Galway Kayak Club saw three days of exhilarating competition across four different disciplines with over 350 students from 15 different colleges taking part.

Darragh Craughwell, an NUIG student, competing in a freestyle competition organised by NUIG KC in Tuam

The kayaking Intervarsity is the second biggest canoeing event in Ireland, outranked only by the Liffey Descent. The action kicked off on Friday February 12^th at 12pm in the Claddagh Basin with the canoe polo event. Canoe polo is highly entertaining to watch.

Early Saturday morning saw the long distance event kick off at Dangan slip on the river Corrib.

The final event was the white-water race that was held on the Boluisce River in Spiddal on Sunday afternoon. This event had teams from all colleges battling it out over a challenging 2km course that pushes the skills and stamina of seasoned kayakers. This event finished with an individual shootout of the top four-team captains racing a shorter course. The idyllic finish line of the footbridge beside Spiddal pier provided a fitting close to one of the biggest weekends on the student sporting calendar.

By Cian McComb