Having had multiple regatta cancellations this season, the Cork Regatta proves ever more critical to getting racing practice before the Irish Championships in July. The regatta takes place at the National Rowing Centre and provides crucial side-by-side practice on the championship course for crews hoping to claim victory at the Cork Regatta and those looking to win a pot in just a few weeks.
Women’s senior pairs will see 12 crews take to the 2k course to battle it out to see who will land on top.
University College Dublin BC (A)
Being entered as the (A) crew for University College Dublin BC, Alison Daly and Sarah Daly come with plenty of racing experience for their club, having both competed at London Metropolitan Regatta just a few weeks ago, placing fourth in the championship coxless four. Sitting at bow, Alison Daly brings a win in this category at the Irish University Championships back in April, and with many of those racing in Cork this weekend being University crews, she will not want the win to slip away from her, even with a different pair partner.
University of Galway BC
This University of Galway pair comprises Madison Donnelly in bow and Emma Fagan stroking. This pair is not shy of success, as last year, they both claimed victory at the Irish Championships in the senior women’s coxless four, intermediate eight, and intermediate coxed four. Both athletes have also represented Ireland at the Home International Regatta, highlighting their success in pairs racing. This seemingly new combination will be one to watch, as they clearly know how to race to win.
Dublin University Ladies BC (A)
One of four pairs entered into this category by Dublin University Ladies BC (more widely known as Trinity College Dublin), Maria Mezquita Garcia-Poggio and Adelaide Telzrow, come into Cork Regatta after a successful weekend, having placed third on the Saturday in championship pairs at the Metropolitan Regatta. This will be a mood booster for the pair after they placed fourth in the senior pair category at the Irish University Championships in April. With a couple more months together, perfecting technique and racing style, this pair could push for that top spot this weekend.
Dublin University Ladies BC (B)
Another pair from Dublin University, however, is made up with Grace Healy sitting in stroke, who last year made the B-final at the U23 World Rowing Championships in the double for Ireland. More recently, she claimed victory in the championship single at the Metropolitan Regatta, but now ditches one of the blades to take on the senior pair. Sitting behind her is Imogen Cooney. This duo are not strangers to being in crews together, as they were both in the crew which won intermediate coxed fours at the University Championships. However, this seems like a newer pair combination that could see them as an underdog as they battle it down the course against the other clubs and the other half of their University Championship-winning four in the DULBC A boat.
University of Limerick RC
The pair from University of Limerick has Tara Long sat in the stroke seat and Orla Gaffney in bow. Having placed second at University Championships in this category, the pair will want to change it to a win. This pair has spent plenty of time together as they have raced in Ireland and across at the Metropolitan Regatta, placing seventh on the Saturday in the pair. This time and race experience could prove crucial against the other crews, especially as I expect it to be a race right to the line. Furthermore, both athletes have just been selected to represent Ireland at this year’s Homes International Regatta, which will take place later this summer. I am sure thiswill give this pair a boost in confidence coming into the weekend.
Predictions
As I said earlier, I expect this to be a very close race, especially as crews want to test their limits for the Irish Championships. But if I were to pick, it would be a battle between University College Dublin BC (A), University of Limerick, and I think a potential underdog from the Dublin University Ladies BC (A) crew, as their increase in speed since University Championships is clear after their impressive racing at the Metropolitan Regatta. However, I think the University of Galway will also be pushing for a spot in the top three, as their success on this course in the past is very evident.
