Whilst the majority of us were lamenting the loss of an hour overnight due to daylight savings time, at least we didn’t endure the mishap that befell Leonard Jenkins over the weekend, who unfortunately lost his breakfast. In speaking to the BBC, the Oxford native confessed to having been ill Sunday morning, having withheld this information. We can only hope he was speaking metaphorically, rather than literally.
In light of the anticipated Boat Race against the yet-to-be-named team which turned out to be Cambridge, it’s noteworthy that sanitary concerns had previously been raised. Specifically, the Thames’ E.coli levels were a source of worry, given that the number of sewage overspill incidents into the waterway had grown twofold since 2022. As a result, both the Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams were advised against tossing their coxswains into the river after the race, as there were fears the water might react with them in a rather ghastly way.
Despite such warnings, moments of elation can make even the most cautious person let down their guard. A member of Cambridge’s crew indeed doused himself with the Thames water in post-victory exuberance. It is believed to have been Medieval History major Gus John, who amongst rowers, is fondly referred to as “Augustus Gloop”. This nickname references the portly character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Post-celebration, one might speculate that Gus shed a substantial amount of weight due to illness-induced regurgitation.
Jenkins revealed that several of their crew members fell ill due to E.coli, stating, “It would’ve been preferable if there was less excrement in the water.” Clare Balding, upon hearing this revelation, expressed her shock. However, fellow panelist Tobias played down the issue, in a surprisingly blasé manner, without even hinting at the fact that the privatisation of Britain’s water companies by Margaret Thatcher had any role to play in the current state of affairs at the Boat Race.
Frankly speaking, there isn’t a smooth transition here to Sunday’s Division One league final between Derry and Dublin. Yet, Derry would have been in a less than desirable state had they not succeeded in their trophy quest.
Mickey Harte, with a smile spanning his face and dressed in his Derry baseball cap, admitted to TG4, that they had to claim the victory many times. His appearance could feasibly make the people of Tyrone quite envious.
Undeniably so, victory was within their grasp during regular time, but Dublin retaliated. They were close to winning again in overtime, but Dublin staged a comeback. To add to the excitement, there were two heated confrontations. In sum, it was a memorable event with a little extra, culminating with a penalty shoot-out, Derry emergings as the victors.
So amusing that Mickey even scoffed at the idea that some didn’t want the league to finish with a final, as if the championship was the only priority and the sole concentration of his Derry team. Shortly after, Eoin McEvoy, Derry’s star player, confirmed to TG4 that they were now all concentrating on the championship.
The next level, here we come.
Balancing the latter part of Ireland vs. Italy and the opening act of Manchester City vs. Arsenal was nothing compared to Derry’s struggle to overcome Dublin. Some people have been bestowed with the People of the Year award for less.
As for the rugby match, it could easily shatter one’s spirit. As Lindsay Peat framed it, the weather was an echo of the day – bright in the beginning, gloomy mid-way, then slightly clearing towards the end. That is, Ireland started off with a bang, then fell apart, concluding with a minor renaissance.
Daire O’Brien tasked Hannah Tyrrell with dissecting Ireland’s handling errors. She responded, “Unfortunately, there were countless errors,” concerned she would be stuck in the RDS until November.
Despite its flaws, the game did have an exhilarating conclusion, with Ireland narrowly missing out on a surprising, last-minute win, which would have been a crime executed in broad daylight.
In stark contrast, the City versus Arsenal match was rather dull, showcasing a mere three shots on target. Less talk of ‘tactical absorption’, please.
Gary Neville remarked that Erling Haaland seems as though he had never stepped foot on a football field before, while Roy Keane likened him to a player from League Two. Those who had him leading their Fantasy League teams would have, undoubtedly, felt more upset than a queasy parrot.