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 as a ‘guest nation’.

The events held will be determined at the Autumn meeting of the GMC but will usually include:

a.      Senior Men & Women:   Single Scull (1x); Lightweight Single Scull (1x); Double Scull (2x); Quadruple Scull (4x); Coxless Pair (2-); Coxless Four (4-); Coxed Four (4+) and 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: each team (men and women) may have a maximum of TWO para athletes; ONE PR1 or PR2, and ONE PR3.  Every athlete must race at least twice, most will race three times.

Para:  Up to two male and two female Para races will be offered after consultation with each of the respective Nations to maximise racing opportunities across the Para rowing classifications.  Where appropriate races will be combined across classifications using Gold Medal Times (GMTs) to ensure fair and competitive racing.  The GMC will devise a race format / medal / points strategy that will best suit the para athletes likely to race.  If there are last minute amendments to the race programme due to illness / injuries / selection to other teams, the GMC will still run events but reserve the right to run them as “invitation events” if necessary, without points or medals awarded.

b.      Junior Men & Women: A and B Single Sculls (1x); Double Scull (2x); Quadruple Scull (4x); Coxless Pair (2-); Coxless Four (4-); Coxed Four (4+) and 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.

c.       All events will be raced over the long course (either 2000m or 1500m). The eights and the quads will also race over the sprint course (500m).

RACE SCHEDULE: The proposed race schedule can be found in the HIR Event Handbook

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 & LIGHTWEIGHTS:

Weighing-in: All coxes and lightweights 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 their umpire’s travel arrangements. 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 =1pt.

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 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.

The GMC reserves the right to run para races as “invitation events” if the entries significantly change.

These exceptions apply as per entries received by the Entry Deadline. They do not apply if crews subsequently scratch.

Guest Nations are eligible for medals but not for points/Team Trophies and therefore are not included in the points distribution. Points should be awarded as above without reference to a guest nation entry.

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.

Women 

The Dame Katherine Grainger Quaich (Scotland)

Men     

Annamarie Phelps MBE Cup (England)

Junior Women  

The Irish Travel Agency Cup (Ireland)

Junior Men 

The John Hartland Trophy (Wales)

The Team Manager of winning teams should return the trophies won by their team, no later than the day preceding the next match, suitably engraved and polished.