Posted: 17 July, 2018

Sixty-five athletes will represent the Scotland Rowing Team at this year’s Home International Regatta (HIR), the prestigious one-day competition between four nations being held in Cork, Ireland, this Saturday (21st July).

The HIR, hosted by Rowing Ireland, provides a rare but greatly anticipated opportunity for Scotland’s rowers to compete against athletes from England, Ireland and Wales.

Scottish Rowing has named 59 rowers and 6 coxes in the Scotland Rowing Team representing 22 clubs and they will be supported by 8 coaches and the management team.

The Home International Regatta is a unique event where you are not only competing to win your race but also to contribute points towards the team events.  The event has proven to be a good platform for emerging Scottish rowers with current GB senior internationals Karen Bennett and Rowan McKellar part of the Scotland Rowing Team in 2014, when the team last competed in Cork.

Sixty percent (39) of the athletes are representing the Scotland Rowing Team for the first time with only Graham Ord (senior men’s team) returning from the last team that travelled to Cork in 2014.  Forty-nine-year-old Tom Duke (St Andrew Boat Club) returns to the Scotland Rowing Team after a 24 year absence having last competed for Scotland at the 1994 Commonwealth Rowing Championships.

The senior women’s team includes the most number of athletes making their debuts with only three returning Scotland internationals (Fiona Bell, Amy Fraser and Jane Hardie) and none of the team that successfully won The Dame Katherine Grainger Quaich, the senior women’s team trophy, in 2017.

Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association has the most number of athletes (9) selected to the Scotland Rowing Team followed by Glasgow Academy and St Andrew Boat Club (both 7).  Inverness Rowing Club and Loch Lomond Rowing Club both have athletes selected to represent Scotland for the first time in several years.

Graeme Cunningham is celebrating 10 years leading the Scotland Rowing Team and he believes that the Scottish crews are well prepared for the challenge ahead:

“Scottish Rowing is delighted to name a strong team for the 2018 Home International Regatta featuring a good mix of returning Scottish internationals and those representing the Scotland Rowing Team for the first time.

“The Scotland Rowing Team has been training well over recent weeks and is looking forward to getting out on the water in Cork and doing battle against crews from England, Ireland and Wales.” 

Click here to view the Scotland Rowing Team for the 2018 Home International Regatta.

Racing begins at the National Rowing Centre, Farran Wood, Cork at 10:00 on Saturday 21st July.

The full schedule of 36 races can be found at: www.homeinternationalregatta.org/rules/default.html

For more information on the Home International Regatta, please visit: www.homeinternationalregatta.org

Support and follow the Scotland Rowing Team on Twitter @ScottishRowing