September-Semester 1- AY 2010 Historic Weekend for Rowing Club at National Championships also representing Ireland at next week's Home International UL BroCon 2010 judged by a few of our less tone deaf Regatta, taking place in Cork. committee members. This seemed to be off This was followed swiftly by the to a bad start with technical problems but it UL BroCon is UL’s first games, anime and came together in the end and the bands heats of the Women's Inter 4+. manga convention. The first BroCon was Both crews gave it their all, but really got the crowd going with some very held between the 16th and 18th of July 2010 entertaining performances, including a only the men advanced to the and attracted over 200 visitors from all over bonus rendition of ‘Painkiller’ by one Derek early afternoon finals. ULRC the country. Sheedy that wowed everyone and, it is said, dominated the final of Men's Organised jointly by the UL Games was worth the admission on its own. Inter 4+, winning by over two Society and the Anime & Manga Society, Between all the events and panels, lengths to Galway RC. Coming BroCon took a year to plan and organise and conference attendees could enjoy some into the late afternoon, two of emerged a massive success for both quality shopping thanks to various vendors the biggest events in Irish societies. It helped establish us as an active selling games, merchandise and manga rowing, the men's and women's gaming, anime and manga community and during the convention. Limerick’s very own Senior 8s, both featured ULRC connect us to others around the country.The “The Gathering” was out in force, with a representation. The Men's convention was also a great way of showing large table selling almost every kind of Squad put forth a Senior 8, off the university to people from all over the collectible card, war gaming model and comprised of the same crew as country. Visitors and guest staff could not sundries. We are very grateful to them for fail to be impressed by our attractive, the Inter 8 and the Women's helping us with the card game tournaments, modern and spacious campus, and squad had Alice O'Sullivan lending us their knowledge of the On an overcast weekend in July, Brian O'Connor (UL Alumni), everyone agreed that the EGO rooms were tournament rules and allowing players’ competing in a senior composite well-suited to the convention layout. months of training are put to the Conor Doorley (Sports Science boat. Unfortunately, a mix up performances to rank them on the test as the Irish National Rowing '13), Paul Noonan (Comp. Eng. The convention offered a great number of worldwide leader board if they so wished. with the men’s Senior 8's Cox activities for its guests. We had table top Championships commence in '10) and Damien Penkert (UL It wasn’t all fun and games, though. meant that they could not race. war gaming on both Saturday and Sunday, Alumni). The Women's squad is Conventions like these typically have strong Inniscara, Co. Cork. In less than The crew was looking forward a number of different role playing games, seven minutes, down a six-lane, comprised of Rachel Meehan charitable elements, and BroCon 2010 was to see how they would match up trading card game tournaments, video no different. One of our most anticipated two thousand metre course is the (UL Alumni), Emma Ryan (UL with the senior crews, but they games (both for casual play and one shot the University of Alumni), Alice O'Sullivan (UL events was a charity auction for suicide were not too disappointed tournaments), a board game area where prevention group, ‘Be Aware! Prevent Limerick Rowing Club has to Alumni), Liz Gabbett (UL because they had won both of people could just play some games and Alumni) and Laura Purdy Suicide’, based in Killarney and offering fight for a chance for the All- the races they had looked to meet new people, and anime (Japanese information to those suffering from (Lecturer at UL). Ireland Rowing Champs pot. win. The Women's Senior 8 was cartoons) screenings for people to relax a depression. The auction was a great For the rowers of ULRC, the The first event of the a straight final, with the bit in between events. success, with many people bidding countless hours on the rowing Championships ULRC par- composite 8 coming in first We had some great guests too! outrageous sums of money on the items machines, 7 AM training times ticipated in was the Men’s Inter easily. This is a big win for the Francesca Dani, a professional cosplayer donated by generous guests and traders. and the blistered hands from the 8+ early Friday afternoon. A club and especially Alice (dressing up as characters from games or The sought-after lots included VIP tickets to innumerable time on the water straight final, ULRC was up O'Sullivan, with this being only series) came to our convention to host a similar conventions around Ireland panel and answer any questions cosplay culminate in this Championships against the formidable her third year rowing. including WarpCon, ItzaCon and LepreCon, fans might have, she also helped judge our weekend as their shot at glory in opponents Galway RC, Carlow, University of Limerick as well as several one-of-a-kind artefacts; the Intermediate and Senior UCD, Trinity and Neptune. cosplay competition during the convention. not least the Perpetual Shield of our dear Rowing Club went into the There was also a Swedish mangaka events. This marks the first year Even with the blustery weekend with hopes of winning departed LUGCon. conditions, UL was able to take (comic artist) host a very informative Overall, BroCon 2010 can definitely be of ULRC under new Head a National Championship and workshop on how to draw urban and city Coach James Mangan and an early lead and extended it came away with three illustrious remembered as a massive success and all further and further through out backgrounds on the Saturday. She also did the staff of both Societies had huge fun ULRC has their sights set high. wins. Undoubtedly one of the a panel on the 18th discussing manga the race. They won by more running it. Our sincere thanks to Plassey ULRC has only won a most successful years of the club, (Japanese comics) and its high popularity Championships title once than a length to Galway RC in Campus Centre for their assistance and the it has paved the way for more in Sweden, which was both enlightening UL Arts & Sports fund for their generous outside of the novice grade, with this exciting race. This was an successful years to come. Under and entertaining. funding. This year paves the way for making Cathal Moynihan (ML4- Beijing especially sweet victory for the the tutelage of Head Coach Other events including a Rock Band squad, with this being five out of the convention even larger in 2011 and '08) and Paddy Quinn in the James Mangan, the crew's hard tournament, displayed on the Jean Monnet hopefully for many years to come. Inter 2- in 2005, but both squads the nine's first ever win at the work paid off tenfold and will Theatre’s massive projector screen and this year are looking to change National Championships. The hopefully set an example for this. afternoon saw the heats and crews for years to come. This This Championship, en- final of the Women's senior 4-, work will be put to the test in compassing 4s and 8s, sees a in which ULRC was represented two months time when the University of Limerick Rowing by UL Alumni, Alice O'Sullivan. squad will be racing again in Club entry across much of the This composite boat of St small boats in the September categories, with ULRC fielding Michaels RC, Killorglin RC and Championships. Well done to boats in Men's Inter 4+, Inter 8+, ULRC came fourth in the final, ULRC and to all those involved. Senior 8+ and Women's Inter 4+, with Skibbereen taking the win. ULRC is especially looking to and a UL rower in a composite The Saturday of the Champs recruit novices this year, so if Women's senior 4- and Women's was the big day for the club, you're interested email Senior 8+. The Men's squad is competing in four events. First, [email protected] or check out comprised of Andrew Hurley the heats of the Men's Inter 4+, www.ulrowing.com. We will be (Sports Science '10), James comprised of Andrew Hurley, posting our hours for new Brinn, Liam Rice (Mech. Eng. Liam Rice, Stephen Penny, James recruits on the website and be '11), Stephen Penny (Sports Brinn and Damien Penkert, with sure to check out our stall at the Science '12), David Meehan, the first three, all UL students, Clubs and Societies Fair! 2 ULSU CLUBS & SOCS NEWS Welcome To the thousands of new Rowers creating a significant after the exams? I have also been working arrivals to the University of piece of club history at the From a Students Union point closely with the UL Arts Limerick campus and hopefully National Championships, of view, the Clubs & Societies Officer, Patricia Moriarty and it’s the beginning of at least a diving in the Red Sea, department is also attempting UL Sports Administrator to try fantastic 4 years ahead of you. Mountain Biking in France, to the raise the bar and a key and BIG-UP (sorry I keep To all our existing members, skydiving in France and part of our own future forgetting we are middle aged great to see you back and I Mountain Climbing in France development administratively and not in the young category hope the summer was an (!!!..This advert has been is, Liz Gabbett our new full anymore , sorry what I meant enjoyable one and that you did brought to you by the French time Clubs & Societies Liaison to say was) …improve the manage to pick up some form Tourist Board ☺) and the Officer (appointed last march).