Rowing Ireland are currently confirming the HP Trialling structure for the 2025-26 season. Initial trials for this season are outlined below with full details and Selection Policies to be published shortly.

All athletes that wish to participate in the trialling system must be registered with Rowing Ireland through their club. Athletes that are trialling from overseas are not expected to travel back for the November Water Trial however it is encouraged where possible. Overseas athletes must complete the outlined erg testing.

A draft plan for the 2025-26 season has been attached below, some changes are expected, and all international events will depend on the available budget.

Athletes selected for the Coupe de la Jeunesse and U19 World Championship team will be allowed to compete at the Irish Championships with a limit on entries. Athletes selected for the U23 World Championships will not be available for the Irish Championships.

November

6k Erg Test

  • Please complete the attached erg monitoring sheet, along with a photo of the erg screen and email to clara.obrien@rowingireland.ie no later than 5pm on Sunday November 9th.
  • The test can be completed at any point within the window of October 20th and November 9th.
  • Athletes that have competed at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai are exempt from the November erg test.
  • *The test distance for PR1, PR2 and PR3 athletes will be 3km*

Open Water Trial

  • An Open 3k Water Trial will be held on the weekend of November 22nd in the National Rowing Centre, Cork.
  • All entries will be made through the tracker system with the entry deadline being 7pm on Thursday 13th November. There will be an entry fee of €10 per seat (€20 for pairs and €10 for singles). Entries will only be valid if the 6k erg test has been completed, unless otherwise agreed upon with the Pathway Coordinator and Lead Coach.

Event Categories:

  • Provisional Plan:

    Saturday AM: Single lane Time Trial in Singles
    Saturday PM: Single lane Time Trial in Singles (Seeded from AM)
    Sunday AM: Single lane Time Trial in Pairs
    Sunday PM: Single lane Time Trial in Pairs (Seeded from AM)

  • Athletes can ‘double up’ if they wish and scull on Saturday and race in a pair on Sunday. Composite pairs will be allowed for all categories but will need to be entered on tracker under Senior. Please email clara.obrien@rowingireland.ie if you are entering a composite crew to mark them as U19 or U23.

  • This is an open trial so any athlete may enter however coaches are encouraged to put forward athletes that they believe are capable of making the Home International, Coupe de la Jeunesse or World Championship team.

  • The following weekend, November 29th and 30th, will be used as a back up weekend in the event of cancellation. If it is likely that only one day of racing can be used, both sculling and sweeping events will be run together and any athlete wishing to ‘double up’ will have to decide between competing in the 1x or 2-.

January

2k Erg Test

  • An erg monitoring sheet will be sent out in early January that will need to be submitted along with an image of the erg screen no later than 5pm on Sunday January 25th.
  • The test can be completed at any point within the window of January 5th and 25th. It is not required to complete the test at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships however the Pathway Coordinator will be in attendance for any athletes or coaches that are present and have any questions.
  • *The test distance for PR1, PR2 and PR3 athletes will also be 2km*

Additional Info

  • Detailed information on the November Water Trial will be published in early November with confirmed schedules and entry details.
  • The November 6k erg test, November water trial and January 2k erg test are all open trials, after this point invitations will be published for remaining trials.
  • If you have any queries please contact the HP Pathway Coordinator, Clara O’Brien, at clara.obrien@rowingireland.ie. Where possible all communication should come through athletes’ coaches.