Swift British Rowing Beach Sprint Championships all set for exciting racing in Scotland
67 coastal solos and doubles will be competing across 10 events from 10-11 August in St Andrews
Beach sprint rowing is clearly coming of age amongst juniors, with the two events for Under 19 Coastal Solos attracting the most entries at the Championships for the first time. That said, the senior Coastal Solos remain popular, and both the Open and Women’s Solos have attracted strong entries.
In the Open event, reigning British Champion Charles Cousins will be challenged by a classy field that includes Gregor Hall, bronze medallist in 2023 and the winner of the Fours Nations Beach Sprint series earlier this year. Sam Scrimgeour, who won silver at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in the Mixed Coastal Doubles last summer, will also be a strong contender.
Natacha Searson, the defending champion in the Women’s Coastal Solos, and winner of the 2024 Four Nations Women’s Solos, will be facing two silver medallists from the 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. These are Laura McKenzie, Scrimgeour’s rowing partner, and Summer Harlow, from last year’s Women’s Under 19 Coastal Doubles, who has now moved up to senior. But with the ‘jeopardy’ inherent in beach sprint racing, strong track records can be pushed off course by a single wave, so the medals could go anywhere.
Scottish clubs have understandably embraced this opportunity not to have to travel far for top-quality beach sprint racing. In particular, Stirling RC and hosts St Andrews University BC are both well represented. It’s also great to see some new names amongst the 25 clubs who will be racing here. Foremost amongst these, numerically at least, is Fulham Reach BC, who are fielding 11 boats.
During racing, competitors certainly won’t be admiring the ruins of St Andrews’ twelfth-century cathedral, which overlooks the town’s sweeping, golden beach. But the setting is particularly picturesque one, and an understandable choice for the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire, the famous film set 100 years ago about GB runners at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. Next weekend’s beach sprint racers might not be well served by flaming boats, but they’ll certainly need ‘arrows of desire’ to succeed in this fast and furious racing format.
Organising Committee Chair Sarah Gregory said, “We’re really looking forward to running the Swift British Rowing Beach Sprint Championships in this stunning location for the first time. With another good entry, packed with established beach sprint rowers as well as lots of new faces, I’m sure there’s going to be an excellent weekend of racing in St Andrews.”
All boats are being provided by the Championships’ title sponsor, Swift Racing.
Visit our Swift British Rowing Beach Sprint Championships hub page for start lists, results and more.
