News

Posted: 27 May 2025

Following the recent announcement by the Commonwealth Rowing Association that Barbados will be hosting the 2025 Beach Sprint Championships (CRABSC) on Brownes Beach, Bridgetown; Scottish Rowing are pleased to announce the Selection Policy for the Scotland Rowing Team for both athletes & coaches.

In 2022, at the CRABSC in Namibia, the Scotland Rowing Team won three Gold medals from four events, leaving them at the top of the medal table for the Championships. The team will look to build on this performance in 2025 by sending a strong and competitive team to the Championships in Barbados, which will take place from 21-23rd November.

Coastal Mixed Relay Gold Medal Winners, Scotland, at the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships 2022 (Walvis Bay, Namibia). Credit: Lee Boucher

Scottish Rowing Head of Performance, Tom Young said “with the IOC recently confirming the inclusion of Beach Sprints in the Olympic Rowing Programme, and the GB Rowing Team taking their first handful of athletes onto the World Class Programme, we’re really excited to support the next generation of international Beach Sprinters towards high quality racing in the Olympic disciplines – with the added bonus of wearing the Scotland Tartan while doing so!”

2022 Scotland Rowing Team members Laura McKenzie & Sam Scrimgeour on their way to winning Silver at the European Rowing Beach Sprint Championships in 2024, having won the same event in Namibia for Scotland in 2022. Credit: Julia Kowacic 

The Scotland Rowing Team will travel to Barbados as part of a wider group with the other Home Nations, thanks to the support of British Rowing and teamwork between each team. Racing will be split across two sets of events, for the ‘Senior Team’ and the ‘Development Team’. The Senior events will be in the form of the Olympic classes (CM1x, CW1x & CMix2x), while the Development Team will have the same boat classes available in U21 and U19 categories. The Championships will culminate with a relay race of the 3 disciplines, made up from athletes across both teams.

Team Manager, Ailsa Martin shared “Scottish athletes have had great success in Beach Sprints over recent seasons achieving World Class Programme funding and World Championship titles. The CRABSC Team is one of few opportunities for rowers to represent Scotland on an international stage and we look forward to building a team of experienced and emerging Beach Sprint talent to take on the challenge.”

The Scotland Rowing Team will look to select and send 6 athletes and 3 staff across the Senior & Development Teams to compete at the Championships, with selections prioritising the Senior & U21 events.

Once registered, athletes will be expected to race at domestic coastal events and submit ergometer scores, as well as at entering both the Scottish (Ayr) & British (Bournemouth) Beach Sprint Championships to compete for their places in the team. The process for Scotland Rowing Team (CRABSC) selection has been carefully aligned with that of the GB Rowing Team & Scotland Rowing Team (HIRBS) for simplicity, but please note that the registration for each of these events is separate.

For any questions regarding the Scotland Rowing Team (CRABSC) or Coastal Sculling in Scotland please use the contacts below:

Ailsa Martin, Scotland Rowing Team – Team Manager: ailsa.martin@scottish-rowing.org.uk

Iain Docwra, Scottish Rowing Beach Sprint Pathway Coach: iain.docwra@scottish-rowing.org.uk

The full Selection Policy for athletes & coaches can be found HERE

Further information on the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships can be found HERE

CM1x Winner in Namibia, Gregor Hall. Credit: Lee Boucher