Time for a Cork Regatta preview before the weekend's racing! I would consider this regatta highly anticipated in the Irish rowing community. With a number of 2k events cancelled recently, crews will be looking to this regatta to get much needed time on a 6 lane 2k course. The National Championship is just around the corner on July 11th so it should also serve as a good litmus test for prospective podium finishers in the coming weeks.
Grand League Format
Cork regatta hosted by Cork Boat Club, is the last grand league event this season. The grand league format is based on a time trial followed by C, B, and A finals where the top six fastest boats go into the A final, and the next six fastest into the B final, and so on. This racing format is done for each boat class and age groups are divided into two groups, Division 1, and Division 2.
D1 age groups include: J18A, Club 1, Intermediate, and Senior rowers
D2 age groups include: J16, J18B, Novice, and Club 2
Grand League Benefits
One benefit of this format is that in most cases the top 18 rowers will get two races (heat and final). This promotes everyone else racing their best time to make a final. Also, this format lets really good rowers race really good rowers. For example, if you have an exceptional j18 rower, he or she will likely make an A or B final and have the opportunity to race older rowers competing in the intermediate or senior category - valuable experience.
In addition, this format also provides a chance for J18 rowers to get a full status win on the record. An athlete is J18B until he or she wins 1.5 races. Then the rower is promoted to J18A. Having this option at grand league events provides more opportunity to race, and another opportunity to win. For example, a J18B rower can race D2 1x and D1 1x, but a J18A rower can only race D1 1x. The idea being, fast rowers get promoted to the top catergory which promotes more racing and winning opportunities through the LTAD pathway.
Two Day Event - Races to Watch
Over the two days some races I like to keep an eye out for will be pairs rowing. Since RI announced open spots on the Home International Team, many rowers will have entered a D1 pairs event to be in contention for selection. Eights racing will also peak my interest as an enjoyable category to watch. The very unpredictable Mens J16 8+ will be a close race I think. Mens J18 8+ is there for the taking. Recent performances in London Met may lead us to expect a tight race between Cork BC and UGBC. Interestingly the womens club 2 eights has a decent entry in Cork but unfortunately this category with the associated points is not offered at Champs.
Representation Opportunity?
If I had my way, I would promote more eights racing from Club to Senior by allowing the fastest Senior 8+ to represent Ireland internationally, as long as they were at 90% or higher of GMT. I think this would boost our international representation dramatically from a high performance perspective. It would also mean less work for the HP team getting rowers to be that good and that fast and foster good crew cohesion. Teams would have their own mototivation to be not just fast domestically but also race against international 2k times for men and women. I think it would be epic. Something like this could have knock on effects where the HP team would be much larger without an NRC requirement.
If you're heading to the NRC this weekend, keep an eye out for me and stop for a chat! See you there and best of luck to all crews racing.