Loughros Point Rowing Club  to host Home International Beach Sprints in Portnoo

A major international rowing event is coming to Donegal this autumn, as Loughros Point Rowing Club, in partnership with Rowing Ireland, the National Governing Body (NGB), hosts the Home International Beach Sprint Regatta at Portnoo Beach on Saturday, September 20th, 2025. 

This prestigious competition will bring together some of the best coastal rowers from Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, with athletes racing head-to-head in a thrilling, spectator-friendly format right on the shoreline.

The Beach Sprint discipline has rapidly grown in popularity worldwide. Unlike traditional coastal rowing, Beach Sprints start with a dramatic run from the sand to the boat, followed by a short, high-intensity row around turning buoys before a sprint back up the beach to the finish line. The format is fast, exciting, and designed with both athletes and spectators in mind.

This growth has been recognised at the very highest level: Beach Sprint Rowing will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. The Home International at Portnoo will therefore be a showcase not only of Donegal’s stunning coastline but also of one of the newest Olympic sports, offering local spectators a first look at what the world will soon see on the Olympic stage.

In addition to the Home International, the calendar is packed with major international events for Irish rowers in 2025. The Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprint will be held in Spain, giving young Irish athletes the chance to race against Europe’s best.

Later this year, Irish squads will also line out at the European Coastal Championships and the World Coastal and Beach Sprint Championships, testing themselves against the very top competitors on the global stage.

Right now, trials are underway across Ireland to select the athletes who will represent the country at these events. The competition for places is fierce, with coastal rowing clubs nationwide producing strong performances. Donegal rowers will be right in the mix, hoping to secure Irish selection and to line up in green jerseys in Spain, at the Europeans, and on the world stage.

This year’s Home International is being supported by leading rowing suppliers Swift Racing and Rowfit, who will provide the competition-standard boats for the event. Their involvement ensures athletes will race in world-class equipment, matching the standards used at international championships.

For Donegal, the chance to host the Home International Beach Sprints is both an honour and a major opportunity. The event is expected to draw large crowds to Portnoo, boosting local tourism and showcasing the Wild Atlantic Way as a world-class venue for international sport.

For those unable to make it to the beach, the full day of racing will also be live streamed, bringing the action to audiences across Ireland and abroad.

Shaun Molloy, Chairman of Loughros Point Rowing Club, said: “This is a historic moment for rowing in Donegal. To be hosting the Home International in Portnoo, alongside Rowing Ireland, at a time when Beach Sprints are about to enter the Olympics is something very special.

"We’re proud to bring this event to the county and to give local people the chance to see Olympic-level rowing on their doorstep.”

The regatta promises a festival atmosphere, with racing action visible from the beach throughout the day. Spectators are encouraged to come along, enjoy the excitement, and support the Irish team as they go head-to-head with their Home Nations rivals.

Loughros Point Rowing Club would like to extend thanks to Donegal County Council, local businesses, and local councillors for their continued support in making this event possible.