Cover image by Mark Kelly (thewateredge).
After being cancelled last year, the Irish University Championships will return to the National Rowing Centre in Cork this weekend. As this is the first regatta for many of the universities, it will be important for them to see where they stand heading into the rest of the season. With seven entries (many being B crews), the men’s intermediate coxed four will be sure to provide some tight performances.
University College Dublin (A)
Coming off the back of a successful Colours Boat Race (UCD vs Trinity), University College Dublin will be keen to extend its winning high to the University Championships. Three out of the five members (Rhian Nelson, Ciaran Conway, and Eoin McGrath) of this crew were part of the Colours senior men’s eight crew that won, showing just how well they can race. With the other two crew members (Connaill Conway and Oisin Dolan) coming from the Colours reserve boat, it will prove interesting to see how seamlessly the crew can come together.
University College Dublin (B)
The second crew from UDC brings tough competition to the other universities, but also its own A crew, as all four rowers in this crew are part of the Colours winning senior men’s eight. Three-seat Andrew O’Leary was a member of the Irish U23 coxless four that went to the World Rowing U23 Championships last year and will be sure to bring that racing knowledge to the university scene, especially as I am sure the crew will want to get ahead of UCD (A).
University of Limerick
This crew from the University of Limerick will want to make a mark going into this regatta season, especially after the club won intermediate coxed fours at the Irish Championships last year. At stroke and bow sits Patrick Buckley and Christopher O’Donovan, who both competed at Home Internationals last year for Ireland. In addition, Liam Walter, who was a part of the Irish U23 World Rowing Championships coxless four back in August, sits in the three seat. The racing experience of this crew is clear, and with that, they will want to use this first regatta of the season to refine and perfect their race plan.
University of Galway (A)
Another strong program comes from the University of Galway. In March, their senior men’s eight took second (fastest university crew) at Erne Head of the River, suggesting they have been developing the speed over the head season. Zach Meegan sits bow of the four, and despite it being his first year at the club, knowledge from competing at Coupe de la Jeunesse and the Junior World Rowing Championships will prove useful, especially when taking the step up to university racing. Despite the different crew, a win at Erne Fourss Head back in November will surely give the cox, Jamie Haddock, the drive to win at the weekend.
Prediction
With many of the crews boasting members with international representation, the intermediate men’s fours will surely provide some close racing. I think the top three will comprise the University of Limerick, the University of Galway, and the University College Dublin (B). However, between these three, it is very hard to tell who will be on top, but riding off their recent win in the Colours Race, UCD (B) could just take the win.
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