The event was cancelled after this preview was completed
As the days finally start to get longer and regatta season comes into sight, athletes will travel to the National Rowing Centre in Cork to show off the work they have put in over the winter months. Due to weather, no water trials have been able to take place, so this weekend will be the first time this season the triallists can show off their speed on the water. With 14 entries in the U23 women’s singles, everyone will want to leave everything out there on the water.
Anna Brennan (New Ross Boat Club)
Coming into her first year trialling as an U23, Anna Brennan has plenty of results to give herself confidence this weekend. Just last year she competed in the junior double at the World Rowing Championships in Canada, just missing out on the A-final and finishing seventh overall. She also won club single at the Irish Rowing Championships in 2024. More recently Brennan came second at Irish Indoor Rowing Championships last month. This weekend will prove crucial to Brennan to show the U23 coaches what she can do now she is not racing junior, but with her past racing experience I think she will put in a strong performance.
Moya Knowles (Skibbereen Rowing Club)
The other member of the Junior World Rowing Championships double, Moya Knowles will also be trialling for the first time this weekend as a U23 sculler. Last season proved to be a successful one for Knowles as she was selected for the Junior World Rowing Championships but also won junior quad and single at the Irish Rowing Championships, beating her future double partner Anna Brennan to clench the title of junior Champion of Ireland in the single. Taking the step up could be a challenge but based on her experience as a junior, I am sure she will prove stiff competition for the other triallists.
Sophia Monahan (Shandon Boat Club)
After competing in the U23 lightweight double last year which placed sixth at the U23 World Rowing Championships. Last season saw Monahan claim the Irish Rowing Championship in the senior women’s double, proving the speed she has, particularly given it was an openweight event. This weekend she will be sure to show off this speed once again, and it will be interesting to see how she does compared to the openweights.
Kate Reidy (University College Cork Boat Club)
Entering her second year now trialling as an U23, Kate Reidy will want to start 2025 off on a good note. As a junior she was one of the top scullers, competing at two Junior World Rowing Championships and just missing out on a medal in the junior double at the 2023 Junior World Rowing Championships. Last season Reidy was selected to race for Ireland at the Home International Regatta and took wins in both domestic and international events as she won the U23 single at the London Metropolitan Regatta. I am sure Reidy will want to show off what she can do on the water this weekend.
Notable mentions
For many of those trialling in the U23 singles at trials this weekend it will be their first time trialling as an U23 and not a junior. Sarah Walsh (Sligo Rowing Club), Sibeal Ni Fhlaithbheartaigh (Castleconnel Boat Club) and Louise Forrester (Shandon Boat Club) were all a part of the bronze medal winning quad at Coupe de la Jeunesse 2024 and will be sure to bring strong performances this weekend. Another notable mention is Alyssa Mannix (University of Limerick Rowing Club) who has been selected for the Home International Regatta team for the past 2 years so she will be looking to take the next step in her international rowing career.
Predictions
I think this weekend will be a very close one, with more experienced athletes competing against those in their first year trialling at U23. Moya Knowles and Sophia Monahan could be in the battle for top spot with Kate Reidy and Anna Brennan not far behind. But with this being the first water trials of the season anything could happen.
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