HIR Regatta Rules
HIR REGATTA RULES
LAST UPDATED 24 JULY 2026
The Match will be run under the World Rowing Rules of Racing, 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 annually at the Autumn meeting of the GMC. The events for HIR Regatta 2026 are confirmed as follows:
Senior Men and Senior Women:
Single Scull (1x)
U23 Single Scull (B 1x)
PR1 Single Scull (PR1 1x)
Double Scull (2x)
PR3 Mixed Double Scull (PR3 Mix 2x)
Quadruple Scull (4x)
Coxless Pair (2-)
U23 Coxless Pair (B 2-)
Coxless Four (4-)
Eight (8+)
The eight and quadruple scull 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 TWELVE 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.
Para:
PR1 or PR2 Single Scull (PR1 1x/PR2 1x)
PR3 Mixed Double Scull (PR3 Mix 2x)
Teams may comprise up to two men and two rowers who can row in a women’s event.
Of these:
one man and one rower who can row in a women’s event shall have a PR1 or PR2 classification and will race in a single scull.
one man and one rower who can row in a women’s event shall have a PR3 classification and will race in the Mix 2x. The PR1/PR2 single sculls entries will be combined across classifications using Gold Medal Times (GMTs) to ensure fair and competitive racing. The GMC, in partnership with the Match Director, reserves the right to alter the racing schedule and strategy to best suit the para athletes entered.
For the para events, athletes race in the same boat class for the long course and the 500m races, thus every para athlete races twice.
Junior Men and Junior Women:
A and B Single Sculls (1x)
Double Scull (2x)
Quadruple Scull (4x)
A and B Coxless Pairs (2-)
Coxless Four (4-)
Eight (8+)
There are two junior single sculls, A and B, and two junior coxless pairs, A and B. Each nation should be able to provide clear evidence that in each boat class the A sculler/crew is faster than the B sculler/crew, 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 TWELVE 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. The eights, quadruple sculls, para single sculls and para mixed 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 have been classified by World Rowing and issued a para-rowing sport class to participate in HIRR.
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. When there is a dead-heat (when two or more crews finish so closely that no clear difference can be determined), those crews will share the points for the places involved i.e. equal 1st means 3.5 pts each.
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. 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 long course 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.