Open Eights
With Irish trials cancelled last weekend, attention and hope returns back to Cork Marina where everyone will await the organisers giving the green light for Cork Head of the River to run on Saturday, weather dependant. With two different types of time trial happening from 9am until 4:10pm, there will be many crews racing multiple times down the course and athletes doubling up in boat classes. The fixed head is run as per a normal Head race time trial whereas the rolling head allows crews to have several runs down the track and get a fastest overall time. The women’s eights will all be competing in the fixed head at 1:05pm with one crew racing for a time only.
University College Cork
This crew has opted for time only rather than entry into a specific category but many of these athletes are racing other events throughout the day. Kate Reidy is one of those racing in an eight and a single. Sculling is where Reidy excelled in her junior career, having started rowing at Lee RC. Lee are no strangers to producing top scullers such as Olympian Margeret Cremen and U23 medallist Andrew Sheehan. Reidy won bronze in the junior quad at the Irish Rowing Champsionships in 2021 and then raced the same category at the 2022 Junior World Rowing Championships, finishing third in the B-final before returning again in 2023 as part of the Junior double that just missed out on a bronze medal. Last season saw her step up to the U23 level, and she showed she is capable by winning U23 single at the London Metropolitan Regatta and stepping up again to senior events at the Irish Rowing Championships, finishing second in both the double and quad before rounding off the week with a third place finish in Senior eight. Also in that Senior eight was Meabh O’Connell whilst Ellie Mahon, Rachel Harrison, Sofia Marelli and Danielle Winter were a part of the club eight that finished fourth at the same Championships.
Intermediate Eights
With co-hosts Cork BC fielding the only entry in the women’s intermediate eight category, this sharp crew will ostensibly only be racing for time and experience. However, they’ll be keen to compare and contrast their performances with the other categories women’s eights taking to the Marina – a promising junior outfit from Shandon BC and a punchy club eight entry from University College Cork Rowing Club amongst such.
The Cork crew are led out in the stern by Jane Duggan and Claragh O’Sullivan, who raced at Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2019 in the pair and eight. In recent years, both athletes have stepped back from the competitive side of the sport, but their evident experience is sure to play a significant role in this boat’s performance. In the middle four of the boat sits Chloe O’Flynn, Katie McCarthy, Ciara Leahy, and Áine Rice. Leahy is the standout name in this pack, having attended the Home International Regatta in both 2023 and 2024 as part of the senior women’s sweep team. Finally, in the bow pair are Ellen Desmond and Sadhbh McDonnell. McDonnell participated in the Irish junior national team trialling process in 2024 and has competed at the Home International Regatta.
A blend of wisdom and youthful exuberance means this crew will certainly be one to watch on the day, and a fast time is likely from this prestigious club.
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