Junior Inter-Regional Regatta

Updateded: 21 January 2026

Image: Scottish Rowing. Scotland Region Team 2025

What is it?

The Junior Inter-Regional Regatta (JIRR) is an annual rowing competition for junior athletes (J14, J15 & J16), organised under British Rowing. It brings together junior rowers representing 16 regional teams, each based on British Rowing regions plus Scotland, with Wales competing as WAGS and the Thames region divided into several sub-regions. 

Since joining the event in 2024, Scotland has had great success. In 2025, the Scotland Region delivered an exceptional performance, fielding a squad of 74 athletes across all events and finishing second overall in the Victor Ludorum standings behind Thames Upper. The success was highlighted by winning the Girls’ Victrix Ludorum and bringing home the Margaret Marshall Cup, while strong single sculling results secured the Barbara Wilson Cup with 82 points. The team earned nine medals (four gold, two silver, and three bronze) won across six clubs, reflecting the depth of talent throughout Scottish junior rowing. 

The Event

The 2026 event will take place on Saturday 25  April at the National Water Sports Center, Nottingham. Further information regarding the event will be available on the British Rowing website. 

Application

The Scotland Region Selection Policy can be found below.

Please ensure you read the Selection Policy and speak to your club coach prior to applying. 

Apply for the Scotland Region Team here.

Application closes on 26 February 2026 at 23:59.

Provisional selection will be shared with club coaches by early March. 

Any questions relating to the JIRR Scotland Region Team should be addressed to Cara O’Donnell, Sport Programme Co-Ordinator & JIRR Scotland Team Manager via email cara.odonnell@scottish-rowing.org.uk

Image: Scottish Rowing. Girls squad with matching braids in team tshirt.

Selection Policy - Scotland JIRR Team - 2026 British Rowing Junior Inter-Regional Regatta
20/01/2026

Background

The British Rowing Junior Inter-Regional Regatta (JIRR) is an annual competition for J14, J15 and J16 athletes contested by teams representing the various British Rowing regions.

In 2024, following a review of the event format by the JIRR Organising Committee, Scotland were represented for the first time. At the 2025 event, the Scotland JIRR Team finished second overall in the final standings, with the Scottish girls winning the Margaret Marshall Cup for the Women’s event, and the boys finishing in fourth place. Scotland were also winners of the Barbara Wilson Cup for single sculling events. A testament to the 74 junior athletes spanning nine clubs that made up the 2025 Scotland JIRR Team.

Event Details

The 2026 Junior Inter-Regional Regatta will be held on Saturday, 25th April at the National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham.

The Regatta will be contested between 16 JIRR Teams, based on the British Rowing Regions plus Scotland, with the Thames Region split into its six sub-regions and Wales competing with WAGS.

The following events are offered at the Regatta:

All crews will first race a time trial (over 1000m) followed by a side-by-side final (over 1,500m).

The above details are provisional based on the 2026 Advance Notice and 2025 JIRR Notice of Competition. This selection policy will be updated once British Rowing have published and confirmed details of the 2026 Regatta in late January.

Selection Principles

Scottish Rowing is aiming to select a full team using the following principles:

1. Competing at the JIRR should be a positive experience for everyone involved.

2. As many rowers as possible, from as many clubs as possible, should have the opportunity to represent Scotland therefore a) doubling up will only be considered where there is no suitable alternative; and b) rowers (excluding coxes) should normally compete in their own age group. 

3. Crews identified through the selection event should be able to demonstrate a minimum standard to ensure that they can be competitive at the JIRR. This will be at the discretion of the Selection Panel.

4. The JIRR should provide an opportunity for rowers, coaches and clubs to work together using a ‘Team Scotland’ ethos.

Eligibility

To be eligible to represent Scotland at the 2026 British Rowing Junior Inter-Regional Regatta all athletes should:

1. Be a current member of Scottish Rowing (including valid racing licence).

2. Be a member and currently representing an affiliated Scottish Rowing member club.

3. Meet the age eligibility as per the British / Scottish Rowing rules of racing. *

* Please note that coxes are permitted to be any junior age category for the JIRR (i.e. up to J18). 

Selection Event

The Caley Marina Winter Head, Inverness (28th February & 1st March 2026) will serve as the ‘main selection event’ with the competition providing racing in each boat classes as offered at the JIRR.

Athletes should ensure that they are entered in the boat class(es) that they wish to be considered for selection in, as per the selection strategy below.  Athletes are encouraged to demonstrate their potential across multiple boat classes over the Inverness weekend – the race schedule has been designed to support this.

 
Please note that only entries into the JIRR event categories will be considered at the selection event, with the exception of where crews have moved category due to lack of competition.

Where an athlete(s) is ‘first past the post’ in multiple boat classes, a discussion between the selectors and the relevant club / school coach will take place to better understand personal preferences of the athlete / coach to assist the selectors, who will be responsible for the final decision relating to team selection.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances (e.g. Inverness cancellation due to weather) consideration will be given to other domestic competitions and events across the 2025/26 season, including the possibility of an additional selection event.

JIRR Event Logistics

Travel, accommodation, coaching support and athlete welfare for the trip to Nottingham will be the responsibility of individual club / school programmes, although it is anticipated that many parents may also travel to support the team.

Scottish Rowing will cover the trailering costs for transporting boats to and from Nottingham and will liaise with club / school programmes to co-ordinate the best way to get clubs boats to the event.

Scottish Rowing will arrange a management team for the event who will oversee the team entry and will be in attendance at Nottingham to provide additional support on the ground. Scottish Rowing will supply packed lunches for competing athletes and team gazebos which will act as a base for the team during the competition day.

Scotland team rowers will compete in a yellow team t-shirt provided by the race organisers, although club / school kit can be worn underneath.

Selection Process

To be considered for selection athletes should:

1. Ensure that they are entered into the relevant boat class at the Inverness Winter Head.

2. Complete the online registration process to confirm that they wish to be considered for selection by Thursday 26th February

The selection panel will announce the provisional team by no later than Wednesday 11th March.

Selection Panel

Selections will be overseen by the following panel:

• Tom Young, Scottish Rowing Head of Performance

• Mike Martin, Scottish Rowing President & Junior Co-Ordinator

• Cara O’Donnell, Scotland JIRR Team Manager

Representatives of the selection panel will be in attendance at the Caley Marina Winter Head.

Additional Information

For any queries relating to the Scotland JIRR Team, please contact Cara O’Donnell, Scottish Rowing Sports Programme Co-Ordinator & JIRR Scotland Team Manager – cara.odonnell@scottish-rowing.org.uk