The Knights of the Campanile and Heraeans Sports Day at TCD

Posted on: 25 May 2009

The first Knights and Heraeans’ sports day took place during Trinity Week on Wednesday 13th May last on the occasion of the annual College Races which were first run in 1857.  Conceived, funded and organised by the Knights of the Campanile and Heraeans, the new sports day event saw twenty of TCD’s sports clubs run events under the theme ‘Try A Sport’, allowing students sample a new sport, such as fencing and ‘ultimate frisbee’, in exchange for a charitable donation in aid of the charity GOAL. 

The winners of the Chariots of Fire sprint around Front Square and the Open Mile on College Park were presented with prizes by Eamonn Coghlan, who won a gold medal for distance running in the World Championship in Helsinki.   Organised by DU Harriers and Athletics Club, College Races feature TCD’s top sportsmen and women.  During the day the Knights and Heraeans, dressed in togas and appropriate costumes, participated in a number of contests to raise awareness of the range of sports on offer within TCD and promote sport among the student population.  The highlight of the day saw seven Heraeans defeat a heavyweight team of four rugby Knights in a tug of war in College Park.    

Speaking at the event, the President of the Knights, Mark Raftery-Skehan said: “It is important that sport be given its proper place in College life, particularly given Trinity’s proud traditions in the field.  The Knights of the Campanile, and its sister body, the Heraeans, can play an important role in raising student participation in sport as well as in improving upon Trinity’s reputation as a sporting university.”

The day’s events raised €2000 for the designated charity, GOAL, whose founder, John O’Shea, attended the day’s activities.  It is proposed that the theme of ‘Try A Sport’ will be developed after Fresher’s Week in September, giving sports clubs another opportunity to showcase their offerings and recruit new students members.  President of the Heraeans, Claire McGlynn stated: “College Races is a great tradition and it is very exciting to be able to build upon it and set up something that has the potential to be an important part of the College calendar in the years to come.  To raise almost €2000 in a few hours really attests to the generosity of the students.”  For information on TCD sports clubs click here.