Bish and Jes crews to settle old score from 30 years ago

THE schoolboy crews from the Bish and Jes raced each other on the 1984 summer circuit many times with the Jes winning the first half of most races, but the Bish coming out on top when it mattered coming across the finish line.

In 1983, the Bish went on to secure the Irish National Championships and were selected to represent Ireland at the Home Internationals where they narrowly beat St Paul’s from England by two feet in the final.

However, the Jes had their day earlier in the winter when their coach Billy Lawless hosted the Shamrock games with invited USA crews racing on the Menlo straight. On that occasion. the Jes got the better of the newly formed Bish crew, but as they say , that was 1983.

Galway Rowing Club entered a Junior 8 towards the close of the season and if they had more time together as a crew it could have upset the record.

From these three Galway based crews followed another Junior championships win in 1985, a mix of Junior and Senior Home Internationals medals, three Henley medals, a USA championship, two Junior World Championship representations, three U23 World Championship representations, three Lightweight World Championships representations, seven intermediate championships and three Elite Championships – a wealth of talent who have remained in contact and often reminisce of glory days gone by.

To settle who was the greatest of all, the Bish 8+ have offered to re-row the 1984 Anderson Trophy race 30 years later at the close of Galway Regatta which is being held this Sunday, June 15, on the Menlo Straight, boating from NUIG grounds in Dangan.

The Jes have accepted the challenge and will fly in from near and far to put the record straight with Galway Rowing Club currently considering the challenge. The event is a fundraiser to help today’s crews make new records and currently the rivalry of 1983 and years gone by is alive and well with the Bish and Jes both currently in the hunt for national titles and will go head to head on Sunday for the coveted Anderson Trophy.

A great day is promised and both clubs ask all past members and friends of the Bish and Jes to come along on the day to witness an age old rivalry being  addressed and settled – for the crews of 1984 at least.

The invitational 1984 re match will take place at 2pm followed by the current day race for the Anderson Trophy which sees the Bish Junior 16 crew line out against their older club mates and the Jes in what promises to be a great race at 5.20pm.

All family, friends and supporters are invited to attend and to show your colours on the day – blue or maroon?!