The 2025 Rowing Ireland February Trials were cancelled after the completion of this preview.
Many of Ireland’s Olympic stars began their careers as juniors, progressing through the ranks to where they are today. This weekend, a new crop of hopefuls begins their journey to represent their country and develop into future Olympians. Some have already had the privilege of racing internationally, while newcomers look to make their mark. With 39 entries, let’s see who the main contenders are for the weekend’s racing.
Aoife Hendy & Jessica Crowley (Skibbereen Rowing Club)
Hendy, along with her clubmate Jessica Crowley, has already gained international experience competing at the Coupe last year and winning silver in the single. Crowley, meanwhile, was part of the coxless four that took gold on day one and bronze on day two of that same regatta. Domestically, both girls won the junior quad at the Irish Championships in a dominant display of sculling; Hendy also secured silver in the double, with Crowley taking silver in the coxless four. Under the guidance of former Irish lightweight Denise Walsh, these girls will be looking to push into contention for the Junior World Rowing Championships this season.
Sophia Young (Methodist College Rowing Club)
The addition of former Irish lightweight sculler Miles Taylor to the coaching staff at Methodist College has seen a definite rise in classy sculling talent from the Belfast club. Young is the latest talent to make her mark, having raced at Coupe in the junior quad, winning bronze. She finished second in the Skibbereen quad at the Irish Championships and, in January this year, won the junior women’s 2k erg at the Irish Indoors. If she can transfer that power to the single, she will be knocking on the door of the top rankings.
Sarah Rockett & Anna O’Grady (Athlone Boat Club)
The junior double champions from the Irish Rowing Championships last year – notably beating Skibbereen’s Hendy – Rockett and O’Grady will be looking to earn their first Irish vests. Rockett is also champion in the junior 16 single, so she is no stranger to a high standard of sculling. I would very much consider these girls as ones to watch among the more experienced scullers in this field.
Prediction
Based on experience, Hendy, Crowley, and Young bring last year’s international campaigns to the table, but Rockett’s rising talent should not be ruled out, especially after winning against Hendy at the Irish Championships. Young has shown herself to be a strong young rower, and this strength could put her on top, but no doubt the other girls will all be fighting for the number one seed this weekend on the journey to their Olympic dream.
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