Every year the Irish Indoor Rowing Championship is held in the University of Limerick Sport Arena. From the spectators perspective it is quite the spectacle to see all the rowers racing as fast as possible, with on-screen tracking of all rowers for the audience. As spectator sports go, rowing is probably at the bottom of the list, so its great for young athletes to show their friends and family all their hard work in the culmination of a personal best. From the competitors perspective the arena is hell. The room is hot, there are big crowds, you're in the spotlight, and if you're not from Limerick you have to travel x distance to do something you could do at home in your own club. Not to mention, January is not typically a good time to peak, or be at your best considering some of the biggest races on the rowing calendar don't happen until June and July - so the pressure is on.
Typically I am always on the lookout to see who is performing, outperforming, and who is a breath of fresh air. There are usually a number of surprises with young rowers putting some of the top rowers in the country under pressure, at least by the numbers that is. This year did not disappoint. Competitors enter in 100m and 500m sprints and the day finishes with the 2k test. Lets take a look at some of the 2k performances.
Working our way from young to old beginning in the Junior 16 category the boys had a close fight for 1st place with Henry Janisoni from Lee Rowing Club bringing home the win with a 2k time of 6:34.5 forcing some club and collegiate rowers to watch their backs. The Junior 18 boys category was no different with Mattias Cogan some three seconds off breaking the coveted 6 minute threshold with a time of 6:03.5 from Skibbereen Rowing Club in Cork. For context the Irish record was set by Fionnán McQuinlan-Tolan in 2024 with a time of 5:47.6 - so I am optimistic for Mattias' rowing future. Men's racing continued in the U23 and lightweight U23 categories with winners Donagh Claffey taking home U23 gold (6:08.0) and Donnacha Keeley claiming the well earned lightweight U23 gold (6:31.7); both rowers representing University of Galway Boat Club proudly. Topping off the competitive men's rowing we have an impressive 5:58.5 from Adam Murphy from UCC Boat Club.
If Mattias Cogan did not peak your intrigue then the next talent will. Grace Faherty pulled a massive 7:07.8 from Coláiste Iognáid Rowing Club in Galway. The Irish record for this Junior 16 category is 7:04.2 set by Holly Davis from Lee Valley Rowing Club (at time of record). I am sure Grace will have her sights set on breaking that record this season with 6 months to go before the end of the competitive calendar. Just out in front of Grace we have Sophie Young from Methodist College in the north with a very impressive time of 7:05.7 - no doubt the domestic and international scholarships are knocking on her door with a time like that in the Junior 18 category! Putting University of Galway back on the board we have Emma Fagan just shy of breaking the 7 minute time pulling a 7:01.9 in the U23 Women's category - great to see UGBC take home so many medals this past weekend. In the light weight U23 class we have Áine Gaffney winning from Shandon with a time of 7:26.7. Boots on the ground tell me that due to a technical glitch at the event there was a delay with race start times which subsequently reeked havoc on some of the lightweights nutrition and weight strategy so I would imagine we will see better times from all lightweights in future. Finally in the women's open event the winner was Niamh Killgalen from Neptune Rowing Club with a time of 7:08.0. Well done to all competitors and winners!
So a jam packed day of results with even more records set in 100 and 500meter sprints across many age categories. Planning and strategy for 2k testing can be tough though. If you need help why not check out my free 2k race plan strategy here. For more info on how I can help you improve your 100m, 500m, and 2k test performance, please get in touch here.