Monmouth rowers get the nod for Home International Regatta

Monmouth Rowing Club’s Oliver Partridge and Stephen Griffiths represent the host nation in the senior men’s races, while Monmouth School’s Archie Hilder, Harris Webb, Harry Bridges and Rory Freeman take to the water in the junior boys’ category.

The event, held across one day on July 23, provides the competitors with a rare opportunity to row for their country and take on their regular crew mates throughout the year.

As well as Monmouth, Team Wales rowers are drawn from clubs across the principality, including Llandaff, Cardiff University, Cardiff City and City of Swansea.

Seasoned internationals from renowned clubs at Oxford University, Molesey and Leander have also been selected.

Para-rowing will be included as a point scoring event for the first time in the regatta’s history, with Luke Jones of City of Swansea rowing for Wales.

“HIR is a team event and every point from each race counts,” said Wales team manager Zoe Davies. “We have a strong team with a good mix of new raw talent and some with 10-plus years of international experience.

“There will be a lot of pressure on Wales as the host nation but we will look to utilise home advantage at Cardiff Bay.”

As a regatta, the event holds a great deal of prestige for those selected, and with Olympic legends such as Sir Steven Redgrave and Katherine Grainger having started their international sporting journeys in it, it is renowned as a springboard on the GB Rowing Team pathway.

Davies added: “HIR is one of the few events where there is only one race in that boat category, so all four crews from each home nation line up and it is a straight final every time.

“From a coaching perspective it means we need to bond our crews very quickly and be ready to go, as teams only get one shot, which makes for great viewing for spectators.”

Racing begins in Cardiff Bay at 10.30am on Saturday, July 23. The full schedule can be found at hir2016.wales