GB rowing call up first for St Andrews student

Wednesday 21 September 2022
Ryan racing at Saundersfoot in September 2021

Ryan’s talent in the Beach Sprints discipline of rowing was discovered just over a year ago when he excelled at it on his first attempt at the British Rowing Coastal Championships. Since then he has been a member of the GB Beach Sprints Development Squad and has become a regular in the Beach Sprints racing scene across the country. He recently took on the role of Head of Safety at the Home International Rowing Beach Sprints Regatta in St Andrews on top of his own selection process.

Ryan has been a committed member of the University Boat Club over his time at St Andrews, and club members are delighted.

Ryan says of his achievement: “I’m so excited to be selected to represent Great Britain at the WRBSF. As the host nation, the pressure is on to deliver results and I’m confident that we can do that.

“I’m very proud to be racing for GB as a St Andrews student. I want to say a huge thank you to the Boat Club, Alan and Saints Sport for supporting me to get here.”

Saints Sport Director of Rowing Alan Sinclair said: “Ryan’s selection for GB comes as no surprise to me – he’s shown nothing but commitment and determination throughout the trialling process. A GB vest at a home championship is an incredible achievement in itself and the Boat Club members and I will be cheering him on to success in October.”

Ryan racing at Saints Regatta 2022

Coastal rowing is a new step for the University of St Andrews Boat Club, founded 60 years ago by John Browne and supported by the University’s alumni network since. Saints Sport at St Andrews is delighted to have one of its own athletes recognised in this way, which shows the real potential for coastal rowing success in St Andrews.

This potential has been supported by the investment in coastal rowing by Saints Sport, with a new fleet of coastal rowing boats and the hosting of two Beach Sprints events in St Andrews, of national and international levels, in the last few months (July and August 2022).

The 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals will take place in Saundersfoot, Wales, from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 October.


The inaugural Home International Rowing (HIR) Beach Sprints was hosted by Scotland through a partnership between the University of St Andrews, Scottish Rowing, and Fife Sports and Leisure Trust on Saturday 20 August 2022 at St Andrews’ East Sands.

The Scotland Rowing Team lifted a trophy at the event.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office.

Category Sport

Related topics

Share this story