St Andrews crew make waves in prestigious European coastal regatta

A rowing team from the University of St Andrews finished just outside the top ten in the First European Coastal Regatta in Monaco, featuring some of the top rowers from across the globe.

Taking place over two days, this year's Challenge Prince Albert II event saw 120 participants from 24 crews, representing 18 countries, take to the waters around Monaco's iconic Port Hercule for 4000m enduro races in singles, mixed doubles and mixed quads on Saturday, with the mixed quads returning to the harbour on Sunday for 500m sprint racing.

With 32 world champions, 24 Olympians, and 5 Olympic champions competing, the 2024 Challenge Prince Albert II showcased some of the best rowers from both flat water and coastal rowing.

The team from the St Andrews, supported by Scottish Rowing's Beach Sprints Pathway Coach Iain Docwra and the University's Director of Rowing Lewis McCue, finished just outside the top ten, taking 11^th place in the final rankings.

University of St Andrews Director of Rowing Lewis McCue said: "It was fantastic to be involved in such a world-class event and give our athletes the opportunity to test themselves and compete with some of the best in the world. As our first attendance at the event, we learned a lot about what we need to do to push ourselves further up the standings."

The composite crew, who all train in St Andrews as part of a new coastal in partnership with Scottish Rowing and British Rowing, included Cam Buchan (GB Mix4x/+ World Champion 2024), Megan Hewison (Scotland HIRBS Mix2x Champion and GB U19 World Champ team 2019), Sam Scrimeonger (GB Mix2x World Silver Medal 2023 and Rio 2016 Olympian), Heather Gordon (GB Mix4x/+ World Champion 2024), and current fourth year student Tea Singh as Cox who was part of the 2022 St Andrews crew that qualified for Henley Royal Regatta.

In a close-fought tussle, the University Mix4x/+ crew saw off Team Swift International in the 4000m enduro race, featuring University of St Andrews graduate Ryan Glymond (2023, MB ChB (ScotGEM) Medicine and 2024 GB Mix4x/+ World Champion) as Cox. Ryan's crew finished seventh overall.

Fourth-year student and member of the University Boat Club Tea Singh said: "I am so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to race in Monaco. This was my first experience racing a field of high-level international crews which was definitely intimidating.

"As a cox, offshores races are especially exciting because you can make a huge impact on the race, both with steering and tactical race decisions. I had the benefit of having an incredibly knowledgeable crew and coaching support-thanks to them I learned tons over the weekend and had some excellent races."

Scottish Rowing Beach Sprints Pathway Coach Iain Docwra said: "I'm delighted with how well the team did competing against what was a star-studded list of the best coastal and flat-water athletes in rowing. Supporting a team to represent the University of St Andrews was an exciting project and this will set these individuals up for a strong coastal season in 2025."

The University has been at the forefront of Beach Sprints in Scotland, working closely alongside Scottish Rowing to develop a Coastal Sculling Performance Centre at East Sands Beach in St Andrews, with joint ambition for creating a world class training and events venue, building towards Commonwealth and Olympic Games over the coming years.

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