As the days get longer, it can only mean one thing – regatta season. Trinity Regatta is steeped in history, having first been held in 1866. The knockout style competition, raced over 1800m, promises to bring exciting racing for competitors and spectators who will line the banks.
The senior men’s coxed four sees five crews battle it out for supremacy. All local to Dublin, they will know the Islandbridge course well, meaning this event really will be a local knockout derby.
University College Dublin Boat Club (A)
Fielding two crews in this category UCD (A) comprises the Irish University Championships 2025 intermediate coxed four (excluding cox), with three of the crew arriving as university champions in the senior coxless four. With Rhian Nelson in the coxing seat, she will want to ensure a win, and with these recent victories, this seems like something which would be very possible for this crew. Alongside their university championship win only a few weeks ago, they also ride on the high of winning the Gannon Cup in the annual Colours Boat Race. This racing experience will be crucial to clinching the win in this tough side-by-side contest.
Trinity College Dublin Boat Club (DUBC)
The local university rivals to UCD, Trinity College will surely want to steal a victory in this event, especially after missing out on the win at the Colours Boat Race. With the crew winning at Commercial Regatta in the intermediate coxed four category, the step up will be tough as they face crews who have beaten them in recent regattas. However, being the host club of the regatta will bring significant support to the riverbank for this Trinity crew, and it could prove an advantage over the other crews.
Commercial (A)
The only club entered into this category, Commercial (A) will be a fierce contender for the win. With three of the four rowers in this crew winning the senior coxless fours just a few weeks ago at Skibbereen Grand League Regatta, they will want to keep the winning streak going. At the Irish Championships, many of the senior men’s titles are often fought out between Commercial and UCD, but after coming third last year in senior eights to Cork Boat Club and UCD, I am sure Commercial have been grinding throughout the head season to get themselves on top. With their main competition being UCD, this well-raced crew could be the leading contender to upset UCD (A)
University College Dublin Boat Club (B)
The second crew boating from UCD is bowed by Eoin McGrath, who recently sat at bow of the Colours-winning senior eight, so despite the rest of the crew not being in that eight, he will bring plenty of racing knowledge. Sitting at stroke is Fintan Early, who just missed out on an Irish Championship title in the senior coxless four last year. This will motivate him and his crew to start the regatta season well. Despite it being their ‘B’ crew, the depth of the squad at this university means there will be some good racing this weekend.
Commercial (B)
Being able to enter two senior crews in this category highlights the depth of the squad at Commercial, an impressive feat for club rowing. A mixture of their ‘A’ and ‘B’ senior eight from Skibbereen Regatta, this crew will be sure to want to push their A crew; however, I think this could be a challenge due to the speed of the Commercial coxless four at Skibbereen. Nevertheless, side-by-side racing is always unpredictable and eventful, so never underestimate a B crew.
Prediction
A local derby of clubs in this category is going to bring some exciting rivalries to the fore this weekend. I think the final will be made up of UCD (A) and Commercial (A) where racing will come down right to the line. Despite this, I think UCD (A) will finish ahead.
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