November 6k Erg
Coaches are asked to complete the Excel sheet attached below with their athletes’ scores from the November 6k erg test. Completion of this erg test is compulsory to be eligible for the water trial at the end of the month. If, for any reason, an athlete cannot complete the test, an exemption letter must be submitted.

Please email results to Clara O’Brien at clara.obrien@rowingireland.ie no later than 5pm on Sunday, 9th November.

November Water Trial
Rowing Ireland will host the first water trial of the 2025–26 season on the weekend of 22nd–23rd November at the National Rowing Centre, Cork.

Entries must be made through Rowing Ireland’s Tracker System by 7pm on Thursday, 13th November.

  • Distance: 3km
  • Entry Fee: €10 per seat (to be paid via the payments section of the Rowing Ireland website before racing begins)

Only athletes who have completed the November erg test are eligible to enter. Any athlete unable to compete but wishing to remain in consideration for selection must provide a valid medical certificate or exemption letter.

This is the only open water trial; all subsequent trials will be by invitation only.

This trial forms part of the selection process for the following squads:

  • Senior Worlds, U23 Worlds, U19 Worlds, Coupe de la Jeunesse, and Home Internationals.

Coaches are encouraged to nominate athletes they believe meet the required standard for these events.

All racing will be over 3km, with singles on Saturday and pairs on Sunday. Athletes are encouraged to “double up” and race in both categories if they wish to be considered across multiple disciplines. Composite crews are accepted but must be entered as a senior pair. If a junior or U23 crew is racing as a composite, please notify Clara after entries are submitted so they can be scheduled in the correct category.

Provisional Race Schedule

Friday

  • NRC open 9am–5pm for boat rigging.
  • After 5pm, trailers may enter the centre, but the compound will be closed.
  • The course will be closed on Friday; no training is permitted.

Saturday

  • Safety briefing: one hour before the first race, outside the boat bays.
  • AM (approx. 9am): 3km time trial in singles
  • PM (approx. 1:30pm): 3km time trial in singles (seeded from AM racing)
  • The course will reopen for one hour after the final time trial for training in pairs.

Sunday

  • Safety briefing: one hour before the first race, outside the boat bays.
  • AM (approx. 9am): 3km time trial in pairs
  • PM (approx. 1:30pm): 3km time trial in pairs (seeded from AM racing)

Further Information

  • Clubs must provide sufficient boats for their athletes. Sharing of boats across men’s and women’s events can only be facilitated to a limited extent and will be at the club’s own risk once crews are seeded for the second time trial.
  • Athletes must race in club colours and, where possible, club blades.
  • Lightweight athletes do not need to meet a specific weight, but a weight check will be carried out before the safety briefing.
  • To run the trial, approximately 30 volunteers are required. Each participating club should provide at least one volunteer. Please email Clara (clara.obrien@rowingireland.ie) with the name and contact details of your club’s volunteer(s) by Wednesday, 12th November.
  • Any coxswain interested in representing Ireland this season is welcome to attend. Please inform Clara in advance if you plan to attend, so roles can be allocated as needed.
  • A WhatsApp group will be used for event communications. Coaches can join via QR code at the first safety briefing.
  • If weather conditions are poor, a final decision will be made by 12pm on the Thursday before racing.
  • The following weekend will serve as a backup date if the trial is postponed.

For all queries, please contact Clara O’Brien at clara.obrien@rowingireland.ie.

Clean Sport Online Workshop

A Clean Sport Online Workshop will take place on Wednesday, 12th November at 7:30pm.
All athletes and coaches are encouraged to attend this 45-minute session to learn what’s permitted, what’s not, and how to remain eligible.

Sign up here: Clean Sport Online Workshop – Fill in form