Following a successful Olympic Games in Paris for Irish rowing, the domestic season begins again for 2024/25 with Dublin Head of the River Race. It kicks off proceedings on October 5th with racing going through Dublin City Centre, taking in the sights of O’Connell Street and the Guinness Storehouse during the 3.4km upstream race. With all entries from the local clubs just upstream on the Islandbridge stretch of the River Liffey, we take a look at who the main contenders are for the overall women’s title.
Old Collegians Boat Club
The alumni club of University College Dublin (UCD) sees the rare appearance of a women’s eight which contains many notable names of the saffron and blue. One such standout is Aileen Crowley, Tokyo Olympian, who will undoubtedly ensure this crew is aggressive in their race rhythm. Behind her, will be the likes of Breanna Larson, Siofra Bennet and Aoife Feeley who all saw much success during their time with UCD when Italian Giuseppe De Vita was head coach. Feeley, daughter of the late Martin Feeley, who was UCD Men’s coach, has also represented Ireland with Aifric Keogh in the early development years of Irish women’s rowing, and so she will want to draw on this experience to help get her crew over the line and win
Neptune RC
The green and black attack have seen a development of a small women’s sweep group during last season and this eight will be out to set their marker for the season ahead. Miriam Kelly and Orla O’Loughlin were denied the Intermediate pair title at Irish Champs back in July where they also teamed up with Laura Brown and Lily O’Keefe in the intermediate coxed four, finishing third. An alumnus of UCD, Ally Mahon, returns to a sweep boat having spent the majority of last season sculling and will be aware of her former teammates speed.
UCD
The ladies of UCD enjoyed much success last season, winning Club and Novice eights at the Irish Championships after a busy campaign at Henley Women’s and Henley Royal. Under the new guidance of Coman O’Connell, following the retirement of Tom Sullivan, they will look to continue where they left off back in July, building towards the annual match race against Trinity College next March, the Colours Boat Race. Their intermediate crew sees the familiar face of Alison Daly in the stroke seat, who will look to close in on her sister Sarah Daly who sits in bow of the alumni crew.
Prediction
It is hard to look past the depth and experience of the Old Collegians crew, who will be using this event in preparation for the Head of the Charles where they will look to improve from their seventh place in Alumni eights last year. Behind them, it could be close for second and third between UCD and Neptune, with Commercial also boating an Intermediate 8 as their sole representative. Trinity College will also look to throw their hat into the ring for the minor placings with a Senior eight due to lead off the race being chased by the Old Collegians crew.
Author: IrishBowGirl
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