Image Credit: Irish Rowing
Cork Regatta is the penultimate race of note for the 2025 Irish rowing domestic season, and as was the case last year, the first time the holders and challengers of the Big Pot will race each other full bore. There are eight entries in the event, five of which are the top crews of their respective clubs. A notable absence from the field is the top crew from Commercial Rowing Club, who are focusing on a Henley Royal Regatta campaign. The prize up for grabs: the coveted Leander Trophy, the iconic ship on wheels.
Cork Boat Club
The current holders of the Big Pot and the Leander Trophy, Cork Boat Club, have come through their early-season injury worries and have nailed down their selections. They are fielding the same lineup as they did 12 months previously, clearly intent on retaining their silverware. The Cork crew have dispatched all the challenges they have faced this year, except for UCDBC, who they are yet to race. These two crews had alternative focuses on their recent travels to Dorney Lake to compete in the Metropolitan Regatta; Cork raced a Thames Challenge Cup-eligible crew on Saturday and their senior crew on Sunday, avoiding UCD’s senior eight, who raced on Saturday. As was the case last year, Cork will be hoping to claim victory in the sole encounter of these rivals and carry that momentum to the championships.
UCDBC
Having departed immediately after the University Championships and not remaining to race Skibbereen Regatta, UCDBC forewent the opportunity to race the reigning senior eight champions on Irish soil before the championships. It is difficult to determine which crew was superior at the Metropolitan Regatta two weeks ago, between UCD and Cork. UCD’s Senior eight beat Cork’s Thames Challenge Cup crew, and Cork’s Senior eight beat UCD’s Temple Challenge Cup crew. Both clubs ultimately determined that winning the National Championships was too important to gamble on a run in Henley Royal Regatta. UCDBC are bolstered by the return of some of their experienced alumni to their crew, with three-time and two-time winners Fintan Earley and Mikey Campion. These gritty racers will contribute to UCD’s attempt to claim their first Leander Trophy since 2017.
University of Galway Boat Club
The University of Galway crew has yet to impact the senior levels of Irish rowing this year, coming second to UCD at the University Championship and to Cork at Skibbereen Regatta. However, this crew did show a marked improvement at the Metropolitan Regatta, only losing to Cork by two seconds and beating UCD’s Temple Challenge Cup crew. Beating UCD will undoubtedly inspire great confidence in the Westerners, overturning the hiding UCD gave them at the University Championships. It is apparent that UGBC are gaining some momentum and form into the critical end of the year, and it would be unwise to discount them from being right in the mix at the top of the A-final.
University of Limerick Rowing Club
University of Limerick are not typically known for producing fast-moving men’s eights; however, as UGBC are also doing currently, they are finding some form at the right time of the year. At the Metropolitan Regatta, UL placed at the bottom of the C-final. In such a competitive field, this result marks a step forward in their men’s programme compared to previous iterations. UL were well clear of the second eights from the big Irish clubs they usually compete with and were just over a length behind Commercial RC’s top eight, who were being touted as one of the front runners for winning the senior eight championship. While I don’t believe they have the strength to keep up with the crews outlined above, UL will likely be the best of the rest.
Predictions
This men’s senior eight event at Cork Regatta promises to be an exciting showdown of the two best crews in the country. Cork Boat Club and UCDBC will be the front and centre crews, likely ahead of the University of Galway and the University of Limerick, in that order. Picking the outright winner is a challenge, as the crews are yet to face off this season, only adding to the intrigue. Having to pick a winner, I would lean slightly towards Cork Boat Club; this is their home regatta, and the importance the club and athletes put on winning the Leander Trophy means they will be determined to retain this title.
