HIR Regatta Rules
HIR REGATTA RULES
UPDATES PUBLISHED 25 JAN 2025
The Match will be run under the World Rowing rules, with the exception of any variations specifically referred to in these Rules.
The Match will be open to teams representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. However, with prior agreement of the GMC, arrangements can be made whereby other nations will be invited to participate.
The events held will be determined at the Autumn meeting of the GMC. The events for HIR Regatta 2025 are confirmed as follows:
Senior Men and Senior Women:
Single Scull (1x)
U23 Single Scull (U23 1x)
PR1 Single Scull (PR1 1x)
Double Scull (2x)
PR3 Mix Double Scull (PR3 Mix 2x)
Quadruple Scull (4x)
Coxless Pair (2-)
Coxless Four (4-)
Coxed Four (4+)
Eight (8+)
The eight and quad will be made up entirely of athletes who have already raced in the other boat classes.
The senior teams (men and women) may have a maximum of FOURTEEN rowers/scullers each, and ONE coxswain. Para-rowers are in addition to this team size.
Every athlete must race at least twice, most will race three times.
For the para events; Athletes race in the same boat class for the 2000m and the 500m races, thus, every para athlete races twice.
Para: Teams may select up to two male and two female Para athletes, one male and one female PR1 OR PR2 athlete to race a single and one male and one female PR3 athlete for the Mix 2x. The PR1 / PR2 singles event will be combined across classifications using Gold Medal Times (GMTs) to ensure fair and competitive racing. The GMC reserves the right to alter the racing schedule and strategy to best suit the para athletes likely to race.
Junior Men and Junior Women:
A and B Single Sculls (1x)
Double Scull (2x)
Quadruple Scull (4x)
Coxless Pair (2-)
Coxless Four (4-)
Coxed Four (4+)
Eight (8+)
There are two junior single sculls, A and B. Each nation should be able to provide clear evidence that sculler A is faster than sculler B, either from a trial, a selection event, or from racing throughout the season.
The eight and quad will be made up entirely of athletes who have already raced in the other boat classes.
The junior teams (men and women) shall have a maximum of FOURTEEN athletes each, and ONE coxswain. Every athlete must race at least twice, most will race three times.
All events will be raced over the long course (either 2000m or 1500m). The eights, quads and para doubles will also race over the sprint course (500m).
RACE SCHEDULE
The proposed race schedule is made available to the Match Director for them to publish with the Match Director’s Bulletin and on the website.
COURSE
The length of the long course shall ideally be 2000 metres, but not less than 1500 metres.
The length of the sprint course shall be 500m; the start and finish of this course should be determined by the Match Director in response to infrastructure available to ensure fair and equal racing.
COXSWAINS
Weighing-in: All coxes must weigh-in between 2 hours and 1 hour before the first race of the regatta.
Personal Flotation Devices, suitable to the boat type, must be worn by coxswains.
JUNIORS Juniors shall conform to the following definition:
‘A Junior oarsman/oarswoman/coxswain is one who has not attained the age of 18 years before the 1st September of the calendar year preceding the year of competition’.
PARA ROWERS
All Para-rowers must be classified to World Rowing classification standards.
UMPIRES
The Host Nation shall appoint the President of the Jury and shall ensure that the racing is controlled by duly qualified officials. Visiting teams must nominate two umpires each, not later than 31st January, to the host country. Teams are responsible for the accommodation/travel costs of their nominated umpires. The Host Nation will organise the accommodation and meals for the umpires which will be charged back to each Nation.
SCORING
Points for each race shall be awarded as follows:-
1st =4 pts; 2nd =3 pts; 3rd =2 pts; 4th =1 pt.
No points are scored by a crew that is disqualified, or that fails to complete the course by reason of its own accident. Crews dead-heating will share the points for the places involved i.e. equal 1st means 3 ½ pts each. In the event of only one entry in an event, no medal will be awarded.
In an event where only 3 crews are entered, then the points shall be: 1st =3 pts; 2nd =2 pts; 3rd= 1 pt.
In an event where only 2 crews are entered, then the points shall be: 1st = 2 pts; 2nd = 1 pts
If only 1 crew is entered, then 1 point is awarded (but no medal).
The GMC reserves the right to run para races as “invitation events” if the entries significantly change between 1st April and the event itself.
For the PR3 Mix 2x the points are split between the respective Nations’ Senior Mens and Senior Womens teams.
These exceptions apply as per entries received by the Close of Entries which is the Monday before the Match. They do not apply if crews subsequently scratch.
TROPHIES AND PRIZES
The following challenge trophies, lent by the countries shown, shall be awarded to the teams scoring the highest total in the relevant sections. In the case of a tie, the trophy shall be awarded to the team with the greatest number of 1st places. If a tie still results, the trophy shall be awarded to the team whose Eight occupies the higher position in the 2km (1500m) race. Any invited guest nation shall be ineligible for the medals or points.
Senior Women - The Dame Katherine Grainger Quaich (donated by Scotland)
Senior Men - Annamarie Phelps MBE Cup (donated by England)
Junior Women - The Irish Travel Agency Cup (donated by Ireland)
Junior Men - The John Hartland Trophy (donated by Wales)
The Team Manager of winning teams should return the trophies won by their team to the Match Director, no later than the day preceding the next match, suitably engraved and polished.