With the Irish Rowing Championships looming on the horizon, Cork Regatta is the final chance for crews to test their speed against rivals before the big showdown at the National Rowing Centre. It is also the final Grand League regatta of 2025, and every last point counts towards finishing top of the Division. In the Division 1 women’s eights, 12 crews across junior, club, intermediate and senior categories will line up on Sunday. In the intermediate category, only two crews will contest for top honours and a big confidence boost heading into final preparations for the Irish Rowing Championships next month.
University of Galway
The tribeswomen of Galway are the 2024 Irish champions in the intermediate eight and will be eyeing up back-to-back wins next month. This year’s crew features one returner from the 2024 boat, Ethel Rose Murray, who sits in the four-seat. Joining her are Annick Frohburg, Jennifer Hogan and Miriam Fuller, who finished third in this category at the University Championships. In stroke, Lauren McCarthy Steele sets the rhythm for her crew and is no stranger to success, hailing from Skibbereen RC where she won the junior quad and finished second in club eights and fours at the 2021 Irish Championships. Joining these experienced oarswomen are two promising novices, Megan Farrell and Aoibhinn Diamond, who look to give their best performance on Sunday and gain valuable racing experience.
Cork Boat Club
The regatta hosts will look to keep the title on home waters this weekend, having won this category at Skibbereen Regatta, and their lineup certainly presents a strong challenge for the University of Galway. Their stern pair of Jane Duggan and Claragh O’Sullivan boast impressive CVs of sweep success, having won the junior pair in 2019 and, more recently, winning the intermediate pair at Skibbereen Regatta. Claudia Neff in the two-seat finished second in the junior pair Championship race in 2023, while Aine Rice in the five-seat holds both the junior and club eight Championship titles from 2016.
Prediction
Even though it’s only a two-boat race, both crews will settle for nothing less than a win before heading to the Irish Rowing Championships in three weeks’ time. Whilst the University of Galway are the defending champion of this event, I think Cork Boat Club will have the advantage of that win at Skibbereen Regatta and their crew’s CVs to tip them as favourites to win at their event.
