Erne Fours Head is one of the primary head races in the Rowing Ireland calendar, especially this side of Christmas. The six-kilometre course will see hundreds of athletes take to the river to see whose time will come out on top. Women’s coxed fours will take place in the afternoon this year, and in this preview, I will look at crews from the different categories taking place over the afternoon, as I am sure there will be some tight racing between all the coxed fours, especially as many seem to be made up of last season’s novices looking to make the step up to senior rowing.
Trinity College Dublin (DULBC) – Women’s Senior Coxed Four
With only one entry in this category for Trinity College Dublin’s women (DUBLBC), this race for them will be a race against the clock as they see how high up the overall results from the race and the other coxed fours they can get. This crew appears to be comprised of many of last year’s novices, indicating that this new combination will demonstrate their progress into the senior squad. Stroke seat, Poppy Somerville, three seat, Danielle Lohrenz and bow seat, Stephanie Creedon, all competed a couple of weeks ago in the club eight at Dublin Head of the River Race, placing second. This experience rowing together will prove crucial as they aim to beat other crews, which may have more overall experience within their boats.
Neptune Rowing Club – Women’s Intermediate Coxed Four
Neptune Rowing Club is also heading up from Dublin to start the 25/26 season off on a win. With three of the London Metropolitan Regatta winning four in the boat, the race experience in this crew will prove helpful as they go against several crews made up of ex-novices making the step up to senior rowing. After what will have been a frustrating Irish Championship, missing out on the win in intermediate four, both Orla O’Loughlin and cox Orla Ní Chuirc will want to start the year off how they mean to go on in this new combination. The time this crew has spent rowing together will prove valuable, as I think they will push for the win in the intermediate coxed four category, while also aiming to be the fastest overall women’s coxed four.
Queen’s University Belfast Ladies Boat Club – Women’s Club Coxed Four
Travelling down from the Lagan, this crew is made up entirely of last year’s novices. However, Queen’s novice women had a very successful season last year, winning events such as the BUCS Head, BUCS Regatta, Irish Champs, and qualifying two development fours for Henley Women’s Regatta. The experience of racing together will be helpful as they make the step up from novice rowing. As their first race is not as a novice, they will want to ensure it starts well. With experienced cox, John Harte, having won on this course multiple times, the advantage to the crew will be helpful as they see how they do both within Club coxed fours but also how their time compares to crews in the other categories, such as Neptune Rowing Club, who have that bit more experience.
Predictions
For the overall quickest coxed four, I think it could be Neptune, who takes it. Being one of the most experienced crews racing, I think they could claim the overall quickest time from the Trinity senior coxed four, despite not being in the same category. However, it is a tough one to judge, as you never know the speed ex-novices could bring, especially as they make the step up.
