In recent years the Queen Mother event has been a bit of a non-event and I don’t think it’s been one people have really cared all that much about. It has typically been a strong GB outfit up against a crew that really should be in the lower Prince of Wales event, only two entrants, an easy final.
Not this year though.
I am genuinely excited by the two crews entered, of course it would be great to have a larger field, but we work with what we have.
Leander
Despite a disappointing Olympic Regatta for the GB Team, the one stand-out performance was that silver medal for the Men’s Quad, a first in this boat class. Three out of the four Leander scullers – Harry Leask, Tom Barras, and Jack Beaumont – return, joined by Rory Harris who rowed at World Cup III in the double earlier in the season. No doubt the three Olympians will have enjoyed some time off since returning from Tokyo, and may not be at their best, but as a unit, this crew will still be world-class.
UCC & Skibbereen, Ireland
The Irish double of Phil Doyle and Ronan Byrne were touted as potential gold medallists and shoe-ins for the podium at the Olympic Games. It wasn’t to be, however, they struggled to find their form and finished in the B final of the Men’s Double. For Henley, they have joined forces with Gary O’Donovan, who was pushed out of the now Olympic Champion Lightweight Men’s Double by Fintan McCarthy, and Daire Lynch. Both O’Donovan and Lynch were spares for the Irish Olympic squad.
If the Irish have had a bit of time to prepare in this crew I can see them really pushing the Leander crew, and on their day, could win. On balance though, I predict that it’ll be Leander to take the win.
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