As the first race of the season for many, this year’s Dublin Head of the River Race is set to be an All-Dublin affair with every men’s crew, bar one, hailing from the capital city. The 73rd edition of this historic event will see 12 men’s crews competing across five different disciplines: senior, intermediate, club, masters and junior 18 eights. All competitors will race across a 3.4km course along the River Liffey, from Ha’penny Bridge to Islandbridge, with the best-performing club receiving The Diana Cooke Trophy.
Men’s Senior 8+
University College Dublin Boat Club
University College Dublin Boat Club (UCDBC) will look to return to their winning ways after failing to reclaim the national title at last summer’s national championships. They will no doubt want to start their season off with a victory on the Liffey but could face significant competition from a strong Commercial crew. With 16 men racing across two crews, UCD will inevitably put on a strong showing and will want to put out a marker for the crews not racing here.
Commercial Boat Club
The third placed-finishers at last July’s championships from Commercial Boat Club will look to one-up UCD by beating them on home waters. With a lineup similar to last season, Commercial hopes to build on previous experience to win in the first race of the season.
Dublin University Boat Club
Looking to make a name for themselves in this event are the dark horse entrants from Dublin University Boat Club (DUBC). After mainly competing at the club level last year, DUBC seems to be stepping up to the senior stage with their entry here. Could this crew cause a great upset this weekend by triumphing over last season’s podium finishers?
Prediction
It would be unwise to bet against UCD, who have proven to be a powerhouse in this event in previous seasons. I think their disappointing end to last season will provide them fuel to throw onto the fire and motivate them to take the win.
Men’s Club 8+
Dublin University Boat Club
The Dublin University Boat Club crew will have lots of experience racing on the Liffey with the annual side-by-side Colour’s Race, between UCD and DUBC, being held on this stretch of water. They will use their experience in this course to try to gain the upper hand this coming weekend.
Lea Rowing Club (Overseas Entry)
Coming across the Irish Sea from Hackney, England, is the crew from Lea Rowing Club, the only overseas entry across the entire competition. After being knocked out of The Thames Challenge Cup on the Wednesday of this year’s Henley Royal Regatta, the Lea RC squad will want to put their best foot forward, particularly so early in the season, and they will be hoping for a good performance to get a win under their belts in the Irish capital.
Prediction
Despite DUBC’s experience in this course, I expect the Lea Rowing Club crew to win in this category. Coming off the back of their Henley Royal Regatta campaign, they will have invaluable experience which I think will be enough to get them the win.
Men’s Junior 18 8+
Neptune Rowing Club
Junior crews are usually constantly changing every year however Neptune Rowing Club’s Junior 18 8+ remains largely unchanged. Their crew comprises seven of the eight rowers from last year’s boat which gained traction over the course of the 23/24 season and saw them finish one place off the podium at last year’s National Championships. In this event, they will hope that one of their two entries take the win, starting off the season well.
Blackrock College Rowing Club
The Dublin-based school of Blackrock College Rowing Club also has two crews entered in this event. Despite failing to make the A-final at last year’s National Championships, their new lineup could elevate them to new heights and see them beat their competitors from Neptune RC.
Prediction
Whilst predicting outcomes in junior events can often be challenging due to the ever-changing nature of their line-ups, I expect to see Neptune take the win in this event due to the pedigree that they have shown in previous years. However, either Blackrock crew could cause an upset by beating last year’s A finalists.
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