On Saturday 26th July, the 2008 Home Countries International Regatta took place in Cardiff Bay in Wales where teams representing Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales challenged for event medals and team trophies.

Athletes from the north were successful in bringing home medals in a range of mens and womens events and with match points being awarded for all finishing positions, all events were keenly contested by all crews

Ruth Hobson from Knockbain on the Black Isle with her crewmate Laurian Pepper claimed the maximum four points and gold medals by achieving an outstanding five lengths win in the womens Lightweight Coxless Pairs event ahead of England and Ireland.

Imogen Walsh sculled strongly in the womens Lightweight Single Sculls to claim two match points for third place in the difficult crosswind conditions of the Cardiff Bay course.

Alan Sinclair from Belmaduthy also on the Black Isle, sculling with his Leader clubmate Colin Williamson in the mens Double Sculls event had a most exciting and closely contested race with both the Irish and Welsh crews. With 150 metres to go, Ireland had a one length lead over both crews and with the finishing line fast approaching, Scotland increased their striking rate from 38 to 42 strokes per minute and in a blanket finish crossed the line 0.80 seconds ahead of Ireland with England and Wales following behind, the Scots claiming their gold medals and maximum points in the process.

Both Sinclair and Williamson later combined with Jonny Logan from Glasgow and Kiwi Andrew Crosland from Aberdeen to claim another four maximum points and gold medals in winning the mens Quadruple Sculls event by one length followed by Ireland, Wales and England in that order.

Alan's younger brother Colin was a member of the mens Junior Quadruple Sculls crew which was in contention in their event until one of the bowman's sculling blades snapped in the heavy swell. Nonetheless, in spite of being instructed by the umpire to stop, the crew continued and completed the course with only three members sculling to claim their one match point which confirmed Scotland as the winners of the Mens Junior Team Trophy for the first time in the regatta's 40 year history.