Image Credit: Irish Rowing
With the Irish National Rowing Championships less than a month away, Cork Regatta, the last Grand League Regatta of the year, is typically viewed as a dress rehearsal for the Championships. Last year’s rendition marked the first time the event was held since 2018, after multiple years of weather-related cancellations.
Skibbereen Rowing Club
As Ireland’s most successful club, Skibbereen are no strangers to podium finishes, and I expect to see this crew from Skibbereen at the front of the pack this weekend. With former Irish U23 athlete Finn O’Reilly, sitting in the stroke seat and multi-time national champion Keelan Mannix in the seven-seat, this crew has no shortage of rowing prowess. Despite having 199 national titles to their name, Skibbereen has yet to claim victory in this event, and a win at Cork Regatta would set this crew on the right trajectory to take the win at next month’s championships.
Shandon Boat Club
Another crew from the rebel county is Shandon Boat Club, whose intermediate squad has grown in numbers over the last few years. Two members of this crew, six-seat Harry Murphy and five-seat Fionn Mowlds, have recently been selected to represent Ireland at the Home International Regatta in London next month, highlighting the high standard of this crew. Another crew member, Daniel Butler, sitting in the two-seat, narrowly missed out on selection for the U23 World Rowing Championship squad and will add further speed to this boat.
University College Cork Rowing Club (UCCRC)
The crew from University College Cork are stepping up from club to intermediate for this regatta, having finished fourth in the men’s club eight at last month’s National University Championships. UCCRC have previously fielded several strong intermediate boats, winning the men’s pair at last year’s championships, but how will they fare in the men’s intermediate eight?
Prediction
I expect to see Skibbereen win in this event, thanks to the high-calibre of athletes in their boat, with Shandon finishing in a close second.
