Para-rowing races will be included for the first time when Cardiff Bay hosts the prestigious Home International Regatta (HIR) on Jul 23rd.

Though para-rowing made its first appearance at HIR last year in Strathclyde, points from events did not count towards a nation’s overall score.

But the 54th edition of the annual contest between the four home nations will see races included among points scoring events.

Wales’ para-rower representative at HIR is Luke Jones, an Arms and Shoulder athlete from the City of Swansea.

Jones started his sporting career in hand-cycling, but is now also part of the Welsh Rowing para-rowing programme following his selection at a Talent ID day last year.

Liz Lewis, the Lead Para-Rowing Coach for Welsh Rowing said: “We are delighted to see para-rowing on the roster of events at HIR.

“We started our para-rowing programme in September last year and so we are proud to see the strides made in a relatively short space of time.

“We discovered Luke through our work with Disability Sport Wales and he has impressed throughout his para-rowing journey.

“His hand cycling compliments his rowing and he is a natural on the water.

“Competing in HIR and racing more experienced athletes will be fantastic for him and his development, and we hope others follow in his footsteps in years to come.”