With a very decorated year in junior women’s sculling behind us, these first trials of the 2026 season should be the best indicator of future talent at high performance rowing in Ireland and will stand to show who will be attending the Home International Regatta, Coupe de la Jeunesse or the World Championships later this season. With a total of 50 entries, this is set to be a very competitive first trials, so let’s look at some potential contenders for the top times.
Sarah Rockett – Athlone Boat Club
The most experienced rower in this draw must be Sarah Rockett. Given her attendance at the 2025 U19 World Championships in the junior four, following her National Championship win in the junior women’s double and junior 16 single in 2024, Rockett is more than capable of taking the win in these trials. Not only does she have the on-the-water, but her strength speaks for itself with Irish records on the erg for J16 100m, 1000m and 6000m. This talent is exactly what she will need if she wants to top the times in these trials but I would expect her to do so.
Abigail Fowler – Skibbereen Rowing Club
Abigail Fowler will be returning to these trials after a successful season last year, culminating in an appearance in the coxless four at the Coupe de la Jeunesse. A versatile athlete across both scull and sweep, she came second in the junior 18 quad and double at the 2025 National Championship. Fowler will be hoping to come back this season even stronger and will want to prove herself this Saturday at these first trials.
Isabella Monahan – Shandon Rowing Club
After an astounding stint at the Home International Regatta at Dorney Lake last summer, with wins in the junior women’s quad and B single, Isabella Monahan has shown great potential in Irish rowing. With hopes to go even better than last year, I expect Monahan to be in and around some of the top times produced on Saturday. With her experience at high level regattas and confidence from previous results she is surely one to keep your eyes on for these early trials.
Freya Thornton – Methodist College Belfast
One of the most impressive races at last year’s Irish National Championships was the women’s junior quads. This was due to a scintillating race between the Methodist and Skibbereen entries, with Methody ultimately triumphing by just over a length over the red and white of Skibb. Thornton is the only athlete returning from that phenomenally successful Methodist quad, which external to their Champs success made the quarter finals at Henley Women’s Regatta. At the recent Erne Fours Head of the River, Thornton was a member of a Methodist quad that set a record time and beat every other crew by over 20 seconds. Thornton has no previous trialling experience, but she could be a dark horse in this race for that. Expect her to be in the mix of this highly competitive race.
Prediction
With 50 entries, full of experience and potential, there is no doubt that this will one of the most interesting and competitive races at the trials. I believe that with her experience at the highest level and her results from Championships, I must put Sarah Rockett first. Monahan, with her experience in the single scull, could have the edge, but Thornton and Fowler are certainly not to be ruled out of this race which is set to be an exciting and thrilling watch.
