Cover Image by Mark Kelly (thewateredge)
The first of the Grand League regattas commences this weekend over two days with the Skibbereen Regatta. The Grand League is similar to that of World Cup in that crews score points for their club depending on their final placing at each of the four regattas (Skibb, Lough Rynn, Dublin Met and Cork) across Division One and Division Two events for men and women. It sees A, B and C finals made up of crews ranging from Junior 18, Club 1, Inter and Senior in Division One and Junior 16, Novice and Club 2 in Division Two allowing great racing and beneficial experience to all. In the Division One women’s pairs, we have entries from 20 Junior 18 crews, two Intermediates and five Seniors. This preview will examine the senior pairs who will look to be Division One winners overall.
University College Dublin/Old Collegians Boat Club, Ireland
Possibly one the most experienced crews in the field, the two women of this crew are former Irish Internationals. Tokyo Olympian Aileen Crowley makes her return to domestic racing, having taken time away from the sport following 2021. She has gradually returned with two appearances in the Old Collegians Head of the Charles crew both last year and in 2023. Alongside her will be Aoife Feeley, who was a part of the winning UCD colours boat race crew and is no stranger to the pair, having raced for Ireland with Aifric Keogh during her international career. Crowley also was in the pair internationally, qualifying the boat for Tokyo with Monika Dukarska at the 2019 World Rowing Championships before finishing fifth in the Olympic B-final.
University College Dublin
The Daly twins have raced the pair since their junior days at home club Commercial. They both have international representation, having raced Coupe in the junior coxless four. Since joining UCD, they have enjoyed a wealth of success in both National and University championships, alongside racing the pair at Henley Women’s Regatta last year, where they made it to the quarterfinals. Sarah Daly also raced in the Old Collegians alumni crew at last year’s Head of the Charles, finishing just short of third place. Alison Daly has remained a part of UCD for another year, which saw her add yet another Colours title to her collection. Reunited with her sister, this crew will look to push their older, experienced clubmates in the composite crew.
Neptune Rowing Club
Another experienced crew, both Miriam Kelly and Orla O’Loughlin raced this boat at intermediate level last season, culminating in a second-place finish behind University Galway at the Irish Championships. They return together again this season, with their ultimate target no doubt being the inter pair title, and potentially testing their competitiveness with senior crews this weekend to consider a crack at the senior pair championship in July.
University of Limerick
Limerick University boat two crews in this category to complete the field of five. Their ‘A’ crew consists of Chris Kirwan and Alyssa Mannix, both of whom were a part of the winning senior eight at Irish Champs, whilst Mannix also was fourth in the senior pair that same weekend. The ‘B’ crew is made up of Roisin Byrne and Caoimhe O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan was also a part of that senior eight last year whilst Byrne makes her debut for her new club having previously rowed at Offaly RC throughout her junior years, now swapping sculling for sweep.
Prediction
The composite of UCD/OCBC cannot be overlooked as the favourites with their combined experience in this boat class, but, expect the young Daly twins of UCD to try and push them all the way. The Neptune pair could potentially split the saffron and blue crews whilst UL ‘A’ are likely to be fast finishers in the closing stages and could pinch third place from either of the 3 crews above.
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