Latest news with #WendiCuffe
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
International rowers gather for SkiffieWorlds championship
The colourful boats at the SkiffieWorlds are generally community-built [Colin Hattersley] More than 2,000 rowers from around the globe are expected in south west Scotland for the SkiffieWorlds championship. The world championships for the St Ayles class coastal rowing boats is taking place on Loch Ryan, near Stranraer, from Sunday for seven days. Advertisement A record-breaking 79 clubs from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, the USA and Canada are set to make it the biggest ever gathering of the colourful community-built boats. Events begin with an opening ceremony before the competition and an on-shore festival get under way. The event was last held in Stranraer six years ago [Saskia Coulson] The SkiffieWorlds attracted about 30,000 visitors when they were previously held in Stranraer in 2019 and are estimated to have generated up to £4m for the local economy. But is is hoped the 2025 edition will surpass those figures. The event is the world championship for the St Ayles class of coastal rowing boat and takes place every three years. Advertisement The St Ayles skiff is a 22-foot (6.7m) fixed-seat rowing boat designed specifically for community building and coastal rowing. Each boat is typically built by the community that rows it. Wendi Cuffe, trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association (SWSA), said: "SkiffieWorlds is a world championship rowing event, but it's about so much more than competition. "It's a celebration of community, connection, active participation and coastal heritage. "The shoreside festival programme reflects everything that makes this sport special, from the international friendships forged through shared love of the water to the wellbeing benefits that keep people coming back to rowing." Advertisement The championships will see more than 100 races across a number of age categories. Big screens will show live drone footage with commentary for spectators on the shore. Stranraer water sports hub The youngest competitor is 14, while the oldest is thought to be 81. Rebecca Edser, head of EventScotland, said it was delighted to support the event which could encourage economic growth and bring physical, mental and social benefits. The competition showcases wider efforts to boost Stranraer's transformation into a major water sports destination. Work started earlier this year on a water sports hub in the town and it is scheduled to open next summer.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
International rowers descend on Stranraer for SkiffieWorlds
More than 2,000 rowers from around the globe are expected in south west Scotland for the SkiffieWorlds world championships for the St Ayles class coastal rowing boats is taking place on Loch Ryan, near Stranraer, from Sunday for seven days.A record-breaking 79 clubs from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, the USA and Canada are set to make it the biggest ever gathering of the colourful community-built begin with an opening ceremony before the competition and an on-shore festival get under way. The SkiffieWorlds attracted about 30,000 visitors when they were previously held in Stranraer in 2019 and are estimated to have generated up to £4m for the local is is hoped the 2025 edition will surpass those event is the world championship for the St Ayles class of coastal rowing boat and takes place every three St Ayles skiff is a 22-foot (6.7m) fixed-seat rowing boat designed specifically for community building and coastal rowing. Each boat is typically built by the community that rows it. Wendi Cuffe, trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association (SWSA), said: "SkiffieWorlds is a world championship rowing event, but it's about so much more than competition."It's a celebration of community, connection, active participation and coastal heritage."The shoreside festival programme reflects everything that makes this sport special, from the international friendships forged through shared love of the water to the wellbeing benefits that keep people coming back to rowing."The championships will see more than 100 races across a number of age screens will show live drone footage with commentary for spectators on the shore. Stranraer water sports hub The youngest competitor is 14, while the oldest is thought to be Edser, head of EventScotland, said it was delighted to support the event which could encourage economic growth and bring physical, mental and social competition showcases wider efforts to boost Stranraer's transformation into a major water sports started earlier this year on a water sports hub in the town and it is scheduled to open next summer.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Thousands of rowers heading to Dumfries and Galloway for SkiffieWorlds 2025
A record 79 entries have been received for the triennial world championship event, which is returning to Stranraer after a successful debut in 2019. Thousands of rowers are heading to Dumfries and Galloway for the SkiffieWorlds 2025. A record 79 entries have been received for the triennial world championship event, which is returning to Stranraer after a successful debut in 2019. And it is set to be the largest ever gathering of St Ayles skiffs, with more than 2,000 rowers expected to compete between July 6 and 12. Trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association, Wendi Cuffe, said: 'We are thrilled with the interest in SkiffieWorlds 2025. To be hosting the largest ever gathering of St Ayles skiffs is testament to both the growing popularity of coastal rowing worldwide and Stranraer's growing reputation as an exceptional venue for water sports events. 'Teams from across four continents will be arriving in our town this July, with rowers travelling from as far as Australia, USA, Canada, and South Africa, alongside several teams from the Netherlands and a strong contingent from across the UK and Ireland. 'The response has exceeded all our expectations and reinforces Stranraer's position as a premier destination for major water sports events. We look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators alike to what promises to be an extraordinary celebration of coastal rowing.' The St Ayles skiff is a four-oared rowing boat with a cox, designed to be built by the communities that race them. Topher Dawson of Scottish Coastal Rowing, said: 'The St Ayles skiff movement began in Scotland 15 years ago with the aim of reconnecting communities with their coastal heritage through boat building and rowing. To see it grow into a global phenomenon with the largest ever gathering taking place in Stranraer is remarkable. 'What makes Stranraer such a perfect venue is the combination of Loch Ryan's sheltered waters and the town's exceptional hospitality. The long beach is a perfect place for the colourful club gazebos and launching skiffs, and the quiet traffic free promenade backed by Agnew Park allows easy access to the town. Skiff rowers were delighted in 2019 by the warm welcome from Stranraer residents. 'After the outstanding success of SkiffieWorlds 2019, rowers from around the world have been eager to return. The record number of entries for 2025 speaks volumes about Stranraer's standing within the international coastal rowing community.' The championship will be spectator friendly, with excellent viewing opportunities along the waterfront, big screens and professional commentary. There will also be a shoreside festival in Agnew Park including live music, family activities, an artisan market, theatre performances, a wellbeing hub, nature-based activities and circus workshops. SkiffieWorlds 2025 is hosted by Stranraer Water Sports Association on behalf of St Ayles Skiff International. It is supported by funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council, EventScotland, South of Scotland Enterprise, Kilgallioch Community Fund and The Galloway Association of Glasgow. The headline sponsor of the event is EcoGen.
