The Scotland Rowing Team continues to represent a significant opportunity for Scottish Rowing to support athletes on the performance pathway. Scottish Rowing will continue to place a strong emphasis on the Home International Regatta as an athlete development opportunity for those on the performance pathway.
The Home International Rowing (HIR) Regatta is an annual challenge match between Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales. The Scotland Rowing Team, which actually comprises four separate teams (Senior Men, Senior Women, Junior Men and Junior Women) are selected annually and compromises approximately 60 athletes and 10 coaches and support staff. The HIR Regatta provides an opportunity for Scottish Rowers to gain their first taste of international competition. 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist, Dame Katherine Grainger and 2016 Olympic Silver Medallist Karen Bennett are both veterans of the regatta as is Sir Chris Hoy before making his switch to cycling.
In bringing the most talented athletes and coaches in Scotland together on a regular basis, Scottish Rowing promotes collaboration between clubs and athletes while nurturing a culture of healthy competition, thus ensuring that the Scotland Rowing Team can be as successful as possible.
The 2023 Home International Rowing (HIR) Regatta will be hosted by Ireland on Saturday 22nd July 2023 (venue Lough Rinn).
The Scotland Rowing Team selection policy for the 2023 Home International Rowing (HIR) Regatta can be found here.
The Home International Rowing (HIR) Beach Sprints is an annual challenge match between Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales using the World Rowing Beach Sprints race format. In 2023 the event will also see the addition of Jersey as one of the competing nations.
The Scotland Rowing Team won the team trophy at the inaugural HIR Beach Sprints event held in St Andrews in August 2022.
The 2023 Home International Rowing (HIR) Beach Sprints will be hosted by Wales on Saturday 9th September 2023 (venue Saundersfoot).
The Scotland Rowing Team selection policy for the 2023 Home International Rowing (HIR) Beach Sprints can be found here.
Any questions relating to the Scotland Rowing Team should be addressed to Graeme Cunningham, Scotland Rowing Team Manager (graeme.cunningham@scottish-rowing.org.uk) or Lee Boucher, Scottish Rowing Head of Performance Pathway (lee.boucher@scottish-rowing.org.uk).
Further information about the regatta can be found at Home International Regatta
Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprints Championship
Coastal rowing (in the Beach Sprints format) has recently been announced as part of the Commonwealth Games programme for Victoria 2026 and is also under consideration by the International Olympic Committee for inclusion at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
The Scotland Rowing Team topped the medal table at the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships in Walvis Bay, Namibia winning gold medals in three out of the four events.
The Namibian Canoe and Rowing Federation, supported by local partners as well as World Rowing and the Commonwealth Rowing Association, hosted the first ever Beach Sprints coastal rowing competition in Africa, on Independence Beach from 2-4 December 2022.
Further information about the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games will be available on this page in due course.
The Namibian Canoe and Rowing Federation, supported by local partners as well as World Rowing and the Commonwealth Rowing Association
