With some of the most promising results in Irish sweep rowing of recent years produced at last year’s Home International Regatta, Coupe de la Jeunesse and U19 World championships, Rowing Ireland will inevitably be looking to go one step further this year. The first step of this testing journey will take place this Sunday when the junior men’s pair trials will be taking place. With thirty-five pairs entered and some of the biggest names in junior rowing involved, is bound to be a highly competitive trial so let’s have a look at the possible contenders for fastest crew.
Neptune A
This pair will consist of Emmet Villing and Hugh Curran, both of which competed with the sweep squad at the Coupe de la Jeunesse last year. At the Coupe, they put down some impressive results but will be hoping to come back even stronger this year. With both in their final year of U19 rowing, expect them to put down a very fast time against this competitive field of entries. If the Dublin boys can stay calm and avoid any mistakes, they will certainly be a top pick for these trials.
Skibbereen/ St Michael’s
Setting off second in the time trial, Mattias Cogan and Evan O’Byrne will be expected to be a force to be reckoned with at these trials. With the two of them being crewmates in the past two U19 world championships, they have shown that they have what it takes to make top high-performance crews and have great chemistry. They are both widely regarded as two of the most talented rowers produced in Ireland in recent years and they will be hoping to show this at the trials. If not unduly drained from their scull races the day before, I’d be expecting them to be hitting some of the top times in this trial as they look to go to the junior World Championships for a third year running.
Athlone
Both athletes in this crew will be coming into this trial after a close second place at Erne 4’s Head of the river, where they placed just behind the very strong Enniskillen J18 coxed four. With no Enniskillen boys entered, Darragh Collins and Evin Claffey should have some real confidence coming into these trials. With Darragh attending the Coupe de la Jeunesse last year with his partner Dominick Cunningham in this category, he will have the race experience that could make the difference at these trials. His partner Evin comes from a great family of rowers, with his brothers; Rian and Donagh both having success at the U19 and U23 World Championships in recent years. Evin himself has shown good potential on the erg with his achievements at the indoor championships also. This pair is full of potential, and I expect them to be high up in the rankings of these trials.
Methodist College Belfast
First off in the start list, this Methodist pair is expected to be fast, and there is no wonder why. With the only returner to these trials from the U19 coxless four at last year’s World Championships, Daniel Crozier, in the stroke seat and U19 quad bow seat, Harry McCartney in the bow, this pair has plenty of race vital experience. Crozier’s sweeping involvement at the highest of levels could prove the difference in this race as he will be hoping to return to the world stage once again this year, and McCartney’s exposure to steering at the European Championships last year, could give the first-time pair combination the confidence that they will need to do well in this race. Expect them to be quick off the blocks and explosive in their finish as they attempt to top the results in this trial.
Prediction
I believe that with such a competitive field, the results of this race could be decided by just a bow ball but if I were to name one crew that stands out the most it would have to be the composite pair of Skibbereen and St Michaels. With the astounding amount of race experience shared between the two of them, there is no way you could rule them out of this race. However the Athlone, Neptune and Methodist pairs all have what it takes to overthrow the composite crew and should certainly not be ruled out of what is looking to be a very close race.
