Posted: 7 December, 2021

England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will compete in a brand new rowing competition next year with the introduction of the Home International Rowing Beach Sprints, an exciting addition to the rowing calendar and one which helps to grow the pathway of this emerging international discipline across the home nations.

The Home International Rowing Regatta (HIRR) is a historic annual competition dating back to 1962 with individual races contributing towards team trophies for Junior Women, Junior Men, Senior Women and Senior Men. The HIRR has been an established stepping stone for many international and Olympic rowers from across the home nations.

The introduction of a new Beach Sprints format has been approved by the HIR General Management Committee with the support of British Rowing, Rowing Ireland, Scottish Rowing and Welsh Rowing.

Scotland will host the inaugural HIR Beach Sprints on Saturday 20 August 2022 with teams of 4 junior athletes and 4 senior athletes competing across the day in coastal solos and mixed doubles. The 2023 event will see the introduction of men’s and women’s doubles.

The Beach Sprint format starts with a sprint on the beach of between 10m and 50m. After entering the boat, the boat slaloms around two buoys then turns around a third buoy at 250m and rows straight back to the beach before one of the rowers exits the boat and runs to the finish line.

Commenting on the new Beach Sprint event, Home International Rowing Chair Eira Parry, said:

“We are delighted to be introducing the Beach Sprint format to the Home International Rowing family of competition and creating new rivalries across the home nations on our coastal waters.

“We know that coastal sculling is one of the fastest growing disciplines in the sport of rowing, with Beach Sprints under consideration for inclusion in the Olympic Games programme as early as Los Angeles 2028.

“We look forward to establishing HIR Beach Sprints in the competition calendar and supporting the development of the next generation of talented coastal scullers.”
Further information on team selection and the 2022 event will be made available by the respective home nations early in the New Year.

Communication issued on behalf of the HIR General Management Committee
Eira Parry (Chair) – England
Pat Kiely – Ireland
Lee Boucher – Scotland
Zoe Davies – Wales

For further information please email hir.rowing@gmail.com