The 2016 Home International Regatta takes place tomorrow in Cardiff Bay, Wales. Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales will compete to win the Victor Ludorum – or ‘the winner of the games’- in four categories: Senior Men, Senior Women, Junior Men and Junior Women. Last year in Strathclyde, Scotland won the title for senior men and Ireland the Junior Men, while England claimed both the Senior Women and Junior Women’s titles.
The event is now in its 54th year, and has been, for some, the pinnacle of their rowing career. For others - including Sean Drea and Steve Redgrave - it was a first step on the road to World and Olympic Championships. It offers the unique opportunity to watch and engage with top level athletes just weeks before the eyes of the world descend on Rio for the Olympic Games this year.
The course runs from the Penarth end of Barrage to finish at Mermaid Quay, and the open viewing and easy access for spectators means the Home International Regatta at Cardiff Bay is one of the best for showcasing the sport of rowing.
The Irish Team is as follows:
Senior Men Sweep Team: Luke McCann (QUB BC,) Miles Taylor (QUB BC), Ciaran Higgins (UCC RC), Simon Kearney (UCC RC), Barney Rix (Portora BC), Ryan Ballantine (Portora BC), Lloyd Seaman (Portora BC), Cormac McLaughlin (Portora BC), Ross Thompson (UCD BC), Niall Farrell (UCD BC), David Keohane (UCC RC), Brian Keohane (UCC RC), Cox: Gavin Connolly (Commercial RC), Coach: Paul Thornton (UCC RC)
Senior Men Sculling Team: Damien Kelly (Garda BC), Tom Dillon (NUIG BC), Alan Prendergast (Shandon BC), Dan Begley (Shandon BC), Andrew O’Connor (Castleconnell BC), Hugh Sutton (Lee RC), Coach: Martin Kilbane (Cork BC)
Senior Women Sweep Team: Dineka Maguire (Bann RC), Katie Shirlow (Bann RC), Gill Crowe (DULBC), Hazel O’Neill (DULBC), Aifric Keogh (UCC RC), Caoimhe Joyce Hearne (UCC RC), Aoife Feeley (UCC RC), Roisin Maguire (QUBLBC), Lauren McHugh (DULBC), Sarah Higgins (DULBC), Rebecca Davidson (QUBLBC), Siofra Corr (QUBLBC), Cox: Gemma Canham (QUBLBC), Coach: Andrew Coleman (DULBC)
Senior Women Sculling Team: Marie Piggott (NUIG BC), Lydia Heaphy (Skibbereen RC), Olivia Blundell (Belfast BC), Selma Bouanane (Fermoy RC), Cliodhna Nolan (Carlow RC), Aoife Byrne (Carlow RC), Coach: John Armstrong (Belfast BC)
Junior Men Sweep Team: Alan O’Keeffe (Presentation RC), Rory Tummons (St Josephs RC), Gerry Mannion (St Josephs RC), James Foster (Portora BC), Aaron Christie (Bann RC), Rory Gilligan (Hampton School -UK), Brion O’Rourke (St Josephs RC), Ben McKeon (St Michaels RC) Cox: Cliff Wanjau (St Josephs RC), Jack Stacey (Commercial RC), Edward Meehan (Commercial RC), Coach: John Walsh (St Josephs RC)
Junior Men Sculling Team: Fergal O’Sullivan (Cork BC), Darragh Larkin (Lee RC), Cathal Cummins (Lee Valley RC), Oisin Nolan (Carlow RC), Liam O’Connell (Cork BC), Gavin Morrison (Fermoy RC), Dylan Mitchell (Belfast BC), Coach: Ray Morrison (Fermoy RC)
Junior Women Sweep Team: Lucy McIntyre (Methodist BC), Rachel McBrinn (Methodist BC), Megan Tully (Shannon RC), Megan Carmody (Shannon RC), Miriam Kelly (Portora BC), Mia Jane Elliott (Portora BC), Siobhan Maxwell (Commercial RC), Aisling Keogh (Commercial RC), Maebh Heaney (Lee RC), Mia Kovacs (Shandon BC), Cox: Hannah Adams (Methodist BC), Coach: Mike Reidy (Commercial RC)
Junior Women Sculling Team: Claire Synnott (Lee RC), Claire Ferrick (Neptune RC), Caoileann Nic Dhonncha (Col Iognaid RC), Julia Vascotto (Castleconnell BC), Aoibhinn Keating (Skibbereen RC), Georgia O’Brien (Kenmare RC), Alana O’Donovan (Bann RC), Coach: Amy Phelan (Col Iognaid)
