Cover Image by Mark Kelly (thewateredge)
With most of the universities going home before the Sunday of Skibbereen Regatta, the two biggest senior clubs in Ireland will do battle against only each other in the men’s senior four category. Commercial Rowing Club and Cork Boat Club are both entering multiple mixed crews in the first six-lane 2k race of the season. With many months still to go until crews need to be finalised for the championships, coaches from both clubs are taking the opportunity to race mixed crews. Tensions will be high at the starting pontoons, as crew mates will be out for each other’s blood, as much as from the rowers of the opposing club.
Cork Boat Club
Cork Boat Club are the reigning champions in this boat class, but the long-term injury of Thomas Earley has restricted their ability to race in their winning line-up from 2024. Their ‘A’ crew maintains the same stern pair of Jonny Cuddy and Fionnan Tolan, while the bowman of the 2024 crew, Barry O’Flynn, is now stroking the ‘B’ crew. Backing up O’Flynn is Barry Connolly, who returned to the Leeside after a season rowing with Mercantile of Melbourne. Completing the ‘A’ and ‘B’ crews, respectively, are Andy Harrington and Ciaran Brady, as well as Peter Grogan and Michael Cronin. While keen to keep the Commercial crews at bay, these two strong line-ups from Cork Boat Club will be primarily focused on ensuring they will have bragging rights around the boat house when they return after the regatta.
Commercial Rowing Club
After retaining their Overseas Pennant at the 2025 Head of the River Race, the senior oarsmen of Commercial Rowing Club will quickly be focussed back on domestic competition with the hopes of keeping ahead of their rivals in Cork. Like the Corkmen, the Commercial RC coaches have stoked the flames of internal competition by fielding mixed boats in the first Grand League regatta of the season. The ‘A’ crew maintains the stern pair from their eight, Thomas Stevens and Macdara Allison, who will be well used to laying down a fast-paced rhythm. Colum Brennan, sitting in the two-seat, will be contributing to the power output of the boat, and Christopher Dehaene will be nimbly moving the boat along in bow. The ‘B’ crew is stroked by Liam Junkermann, a former Trinity, like his opposing strokeman. They boast an imposing middle pair of Michael Fanning and Andrej Liadov, two long, strong rowers who will be powering the boat through the water in the bucket-rigged formation. Tom McKeon will also be contributing his adept racing ability in the bow of this boat, having previously won the intermediate four and narrowly lost the senior four with his alma mater at the 2021 Championships from the bow seat.
Predictions
Given that these crews are mixed, it proves very difficult to predict the race’s outcome. In truth, the spectators who travel to the National Rowing Centre mid-morning this coming Sunday will be the winners, witnessing what will undoubtedly be a closely contested and fiery race. Being compelled to choose a boat to come out on top, I would have to lean towards Cork Boat Club ‘A’, with the influence of the reigning champions in stern pair being the difference between them and the rest. However, I would be surprised if the rest were any more than a few strokes behind.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
