Following the cancellation of Dublin Head of the River last weekend, all eyes now turn to Limerick in the southwest of Ireland where St Michael’s Head of the River organisers will be praying to the weather gods for good conditions this Saturday. Run over a three kilometre course, this event sees the use of a ‘rolling head’ race which allows crews to race the course as many times as they wish between nine am and half past three to try and get the fastest time. With seven entries in the Junior 18 Men’s quad event, we look at who is in contention to come out on top this weekend.
St Michael’s Rowing Club
The host club has entered two crews in this category, both of which contain young oarsmen looking to step up into the Junior 18 age group. They will want to follow in the footsteps of their clubmates Evan O’Byrne, Shane Rafferty and Jack Rafferty, who were selected for the Irish team for the World Rowing Championships in Canada during the summer. The A crew features Cillian Ryan, who has the most racing experience in this crew competing in the Junior 18 single at the Irish Championships. The A crew will look to defend their title from last year, being supported by their B crew which contains Oisin Walsh who finished seventh last year in this race in Junior 16 coxed quad alongside Jason Bryce who will sit in the two seat this year.
Muckross Rowing Club
The runner up last year, who all raced in Junior 16 coxed quad last year, will be hoping to go one better this time around. Jack Murphy steps up from his second place finish and will be joined by Daragh O’Connor, who finished fifth, Jack Donnelly, finished sixth and Gearoid O’Connor who finished eighth. Both Donnelly and Daragh O’Connor competed against their crewmates in Junior 18 quads at Irish Rowing Championships where they came out the faster of the two crews in the time trial. No doubt the combination of these four rowers will ensure this year’s crew will be in the mix for the winner’s pennant.
Enniskillen Boat Club
The former school of Paris Olympians Nathan Timoney and Ross Corrigan, these junior boys will no doubt be looking to start their journeys towards the Olympic Games in the future. Two of this crew, Hugo McChesney and Justin Smith, competed in the Junior 18 quad at Irish Champs, finishing ninth in the time trial. McChesney was also part of the Junior 18 eight at the same Championships that was involved in a nail-biting race to the wire where they finished in third place behind St Joseph’s and Colaiste Iognaid. Ben Cameron and Jamie Dunlop complete this quad lineup making the jump to Junior 18 from last year’s Junior 15 double where Dunlop finished seventh and Cameron finished tenth. These two young rowers will be hoping to help their older crewmates to a win this weekend.
Prediction
It is likely to be close match up between the hosts, St Michael’s A, and the runners up from last year, Muckross, for the Junior 18 Men’s quad pennant. St Michael’s B could spring a surprise drawing on their experience from last year’s race whilst Enniskillen will also look to challenge for the top finish. Galway RC are sending out two crews in this event, who are made up of first season rowers who have seen success in Novice sculling this year, alongside Cork BC and these crews will look to gain experience in coxless boats in preparation for the new season ahead.
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