New events added to 2016 Sydney International Rowing Regatta
The 2016 Sydney International Rowing Regatta (SIRR) will see crews from Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam descend upon the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith, Western Sydney. Crews from these countries will join Australia’s elite, club and school rowers at Australian rowing’s premier event.
This year’s event, which runs from 14 to 20 March 2016, will see crews from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong, which also includes a Lightweight Women’s Double Scull from the People’s Republic of China, competing. The 2016 event provides the ideal competitive warm-up for the international crews before they head to South Korea for the Asia Olympic Qualification Regatta which begins on 22 April.
The majority of the international crews entered will be competing in the Lightweight categories, however Hong Kong are also entering athletes into two para-rowing events, the Arms, Shoulders Men’s Single and Legs Trunk and Arms Men’s Single.
This year’s event, which includes the Australian Open Championships, the Australian Open Schools Championships and the King’s and Queen’s Cups Interstate Regatta, will feature some new and exciting events for competitors and spectators alike.
Following feedback from attendees of the 2015 Sydney International Rowing Regatta, Rowing Australia has included ‘500 metre sprints’ into the 2016 SIRR racing program. The fast and fun races are sure to provide plenty of excitement for all at this year’s event.
There are a number of categories set to race, listed below and for the first time Masters Rowers (rowers aged 27 and over) have been invited to compete in the sprint aspect of the event:
- Masters Quad Scull (Men’s and Women’s)
- Masters Coxed Eights (Men’s and Women’s)
- School Coxed Quads Sculls (Boys’ and Girls’)
- School Coxed Eights (Boys’ and Girls’)
- University Quad Sculls (Men’s and Women’s)
- University Coxed Eights (Men’s and Women’s)
- Open Quad Scull (Men’s and Women’s)
- Open Coxed Eight (Men’s and Women’s)
In addition to the sprints, this year’s Interstate Regatta will see the addition of the Legs, Trunk and Arms Single Sculls in both the Men’s and Women’s category. This is the first time ever that para-athletes will feature in the King’s and Queen’s Cup Interstate Regatta, with the races introduced to help bridge the gap between club and elite racing and providing additional representative pathways for Australia’s para-rowers.
This year’s LTA Singles races will be exhibition races, with the results counting towards the overall points score in the Rowing Australia Cup from 2017 onwards.
The final addition to this year’s program is the Club Eights. Following the continued growth of the existing Club Doubles and Fours (Men’s and Women’s) the Club Eights have been added to the regatta program.
The new Club Eights will be positioned at the end of a racing session with the existing Club Doubles and Fours positioned at the start, to allow athletes to race in both if desired.
All in all, it is shaping up to be a great 2016 event with lots of exciting racing for both spectators and competitors.
To purchase your tickets for SIRR 2016, click here.