With Erne Fours Head of the River kicking off the domestic calendar, many top clubs are keen to test their early winter season progress on the tricky 6km course in Enniskillen. With 11 entries across five clubs, the open senior coxless four is set to be the most hotly contested event over the weekend with four stand-out crews to watch.
University of Galway Boat Club A
After a phenomenally successful season for UGBC last year, it would be ill-advised to bet against their top-selected coxless four. Having represented Ireland at the U23 World Rowing Championships in the men’s quad, Shane McLoughlin is returning to his sweep roots along with two fellow Bish alumni. Intermediate pair, coxed four, and eight champion James Murphy, along with fellow junior eight winning crewmate Cathal Monaghan, make up the bow pair of this combination. Tipp-man James Hurley rounds off this crew, having been a part of UGBC’s strong intermediate eight from last year.
Commercial Rowing Club A
With five entries in this event, Commercial have made it no secret that the senior coxless four is a priority event for them this year. Commercial’s ‘A’ crew for this event has three returning athletes from last year’s four, which competed in The Wyfold Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. Ronan and Colum Brennan, familiar faces in Islandbridge, sit in the two and three seats of this coxless four and bring a wealth of domestic racing experience to this crew. Thomas Stevens and Michael Fanning occupy the bow and stroke seats, each with club and intermediate championships under their belts. Having finished in fourth at last year’s National Championships in this event, the Islandbridge-based crew will be keen to set a marker early in the season.
University College of Dublin Boat Club A
While UCD won this event last year and are reigning Irish champions in the senior coxless four, this crew consists of athletes from last year’s intermediate and club boats. Intermediate eight champion Eoin McGrath will be joined by his pair partner from last year’s intermediate pair, Ciaran Conway, with whom they finished in a strong second place. The crew is rounded out by Rutgers alum Ryan Quinn and UCD’s homegrown talent from their novice programme, Conor O’Reilly. This crew is the bow four of UCD’s eight that recently travelled to Boston to compete in the Head of the Charles, so they do have some early-season racing experience. This crew will be keen to cement themselves as key players in UCD’s formidable senior squad.
Commercial Rowing Club B
While this crew is entered as the second Commercial four, the calibre of athletes in this boat is far from second-class. Both Chris Dehaene and Ed Meehan were a part of Commercial’s Britannia Challenge Cup campaign last season and are swapping to the coxless four this year. Joining them in this crew are former intermediate four and eight champion Tiarnan McKnight and reigning club eight champion Aaron Hurley. Having been entered as the B crew, the added challenge of beating the A crew will surely give them motivation.
Prediction
While competition in this event will be tight, I expect UGBC A to maintain its momentum from last season to grab a win over the Islandbridge-based crews. International experience in the stern, three athletes who have rowed together through school and university, along with a rising young talent, the University of Galway appears to be the crew to beat.
