News

Posted: July 20, 2016

Scottish Rowing has named its team of 67 athletes to compete in the Home International Regatta (HIR), the prestigious one-day competition between four nations at Cardiff this Saturday (23rd July).

The HIR event provides a rare opportunity for rowers to represent their home nations and to compete against athletes from England, Ireland and Wales.

“This Home International Regatta is one of only two rowing events, along with the Commonwealth Rowing Championships, where you can compete for Scotland” said Scotland Rowing Team Manager, Graeme Cunningham.

“That makes the regatta important in itself, and because athletes have to be selected for this international vest, it makes it stand out from other high profile regattas.
 
“For some athletes it will be the pinnacle of their career. For others it’s the first step of their development to breaking into the GB Rowing Team.”

Five Scottish rowers competing for Team GB in Rio next month began their international sporting journeys at the HIR.
 
Karen Bennett, Katherine Grainger, Polly Swann, Alan Sinclair and Sam Scrimgeour have all benefitted from its spring board effect onto the GB pathway.

Whilst some of the bigger names might be missing in this year’s Scottish team line up – due to GB training commitments for next month’s Under 23 World Championships and World Universities Championships - 20 seniors and 18 juniors will be making their Home International debuts this weekend.

“We see it as a positive,” continued Cunningham.  “We’ve consistently had a good run of athletes starting off in the Scotland team and then graduating into the GB teams so this weekend will be a great opportunity for newcomers to come in and prove themselves.”

The team is captained by many times Scottish international Emma McDonald (Glasgow University BC) and James Temple, part of the University of Edinburgh team which last month made history by becoming the first Scottish University to win an event in the 177 year history of the Henley Royal Regatta.

HIR Team Captains Emma McDonald and James Temple

Whilst England has had the stranglehold on the overall HIR title, Scotland has in recent years produced its share of good results in the individual competitions.     

For the very first time in the regatta’s history, para-rowing will be included as a point scoring event, with GB Rowing Team athlete, Scott Meenagh, expected to deliver for Scotland.  

“We are very pleased with our team’s performances, particularly over the last two years,” said Cunningham.

“Last year we won the senior men’s team competition and two years ago the men and women both won the senior men and women.

“We certainly expect to win some events this time around.”

Racing begins in Cardiff Bay at 10:30 on Saturday 23rd July. The full schedule can be found on the:  Home International Regatta Webpage

For more information on the Home International Regatta, please visit www.hir2016.wales

The Scotland Rowing team for the 2016 Home International Regatta (23rd July)