The intermediate eights category at the 2025 edition of Erne Head of the River has a diverse range of crews competing. There are some clubs that have entered their second eights in the senior category, only racing their third crews in the intermediate event. Most of the crews that have entered the intermediate event are the second eight of their respective clubs, and one club has avoided the senior category altogether and entered their top crew in the intermediate eight.
University of Limerick
University of Limerick are the only club to have not entered their top crew in the senior eight, opting to race two intermediate eights. University of Limerick suffered a comprehensive defeat in their match race against University of Galway first eight earlier this month, but their coaches are sticking with the same athletes to race down the River Erne, with some minor positional changes. This crew finished half a length ahead of the University of Galway second eight, which is entered in this category, over the two-kilometre match race course. University of Limerick will be counting on the consistency of this line-up to ensure they increase that margin over the longer head race course.
University of Galway
University of Galway are one of the clubs that have entered their second eight in the intermediate category. Their second eight will have gained some confidence, match racing against University of Limerick and finishing only a half-length behind the top eight UL could field. This eight also was the fastest eight a day earlier at St. Michael’s Head of the River. This crew has also undergone some changes in personnel and positions. University of Galway have a strong tradition of eights rowing, and this can be seen in their technical efficiency. Perhaps the changes to the line up in conjunction with this technical efficiency is enough to overturn the match race result against their new regional rivals.
Cork Boat Club
This Cork Boat Club crew are fresh off racing on their home stretch last weekend. While there was some disruption to this crew on the lead up to Cork Head of the River with injuries in the senior eight forcing athletes to move up a crew, they will get to race the same combination as last weekend on the River Erne this coming Saturday. This crew will be satisfied with their outing last weekend, beating the only other intermediate eight and finishing 23 seconds behind their senior eight over the four kilometre course. This Cork Boat Club crew will want to ensure the long trip up to Enniskillen will be worth the effort by taking home the intermediate eights pennant.
Prediction
The three eights listed above are going to be racing one after another on the starting order and will likely be very close on the result sheet. I believe that University of Limerick will hold onto the result of their match race against University of Galway’s second crew, with Cork Boat Club close behind these two crews. There will likely only be a few seconds between these three strong intermediate eights.
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