Physically exposing, mentally brutal, and impossible to bluff, the 2000m erg test is widely regarded as rowing’s ultimate test. Stepping onto an erg knowing you will experience six to eight minutes of sustained discomfort is a challenge in itself, so credit must go to every athlete who has put themselves forward to race the women’s open 2000m at next week’s Irish Indoor Rowing Championships.
Year-on-year, I find the timing of indoors particularly interesting. As rowers are in the depths of the head season, the focus for most teams will have shifted to longer pieces, such as 5ks, 6ks, and 30-minute tests, rather than all-out 2000m performances. As a result, for some athletes, this event may be their first true 2000m of the season, bringing another layer of uncertainty to an already unpredictable event.
Many factors can influence the outcome of erg tests on the day, including pacing, nerves, fueling, recovery, and even machine setup. These factors, combined with the relatively few entries for the open women’s 2000m event this year, mean that predicting the outcome is far from straightforward.
Typically, erg tests are conducted in carefully controlled environments designed to help athletes perform at their best. However, racing on a big stage, in front of a large crowd of strangers, turns this erg piece into a spectator sport, and that atmosphere can either elevate a performance or completely derail it.
Eimer O’Callaghan (Ballinacurra Rowing Club)
By entering this category, Eimer O’Callaghan takes a step up to the open category after competing in the Junior 18 event last year, marking an exciting transition point in her development as an athlete. Also entered in the 1000m event, O’Callaghan must make wise choices on fueling and recovery if she wants to get the most out of both events.
Oisin Forde (City of Derry Boat Club)
A wealth of experience is brought to the field by Oisin Forde. With both international exposure during her junior days and many appearances at indoor championships, the demands of high-pressure erg racing shouldn’t faze her. Her involvement in coastal rowing may also prove handy here, as staying composed and controlled will be the difference between producing a good or a great 2k.
Mary Ann Kent (Arklow Rowing Club)
Another seasoned competitor, Mary Ann Kent, is a familiar name at indoor championships. Her extensive experience both in coastal rowing and erg competition means she understands precisely what is required on the day, an experience she can draw confidence from when the pressure builds.
Alyssa Mannix (University Of Limerick Rowing Club)
Alyssa Mannix enters 2026 off the back of an awe-inspiring 2025 season. Named UL’s women’s athlete of the year and competing in the women’s eight at both Home International Regatta and the U23 European Rowing Championships, it is impossible to look past Mannix as the standout contender. However, as every rower knows, the erg doesn’t always reward reputation.
Sligo Rowing Club
Representing Sligo Rowing Club are Jade Bradley and Leah Moylan. While neither athlete took home silverware at last year’s championships, they played a key role in the club enjoying one of its most successful sprint seasons in recent years. For both athletes, the opportunity to perform on the indoor stage is an exciting one and a chance to translate that speed into a strong erg performance.
Prediction
Ultimately, this race will come down to more than just fitness, but to who handles the unique pressures of championship erg racing best. For that reason, it is hard to look past Mannix as the leading contender for this category due to her extensive international experience, including racing in high-pressure conditions. But, in an event as raw and revealing as the 2K, anything can happen, and that uncertainty is precisely what makes this category an exciting one to watch.
