THERE are always a number of challenges to contend with in the lead-up to a major event but the past few weeks have been exceptional for the British rowing team as they prepared for the World Championships.

With Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, set to be the venue, the squad have been facing the possibility the Championships would be cancelled due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma.

Thankfully, the area has escaped relatively unscathed and racing will commence, as planned, today.

Despite being one of Scotland’s most experienced representatives in the British team, Sam Scrimgeour admits he has never faced such a situation and while the area has avoided any severe damage, the tricky weather conditions are likely to endure throughout the championship.

“Last week, there were questions about whether we’d even come out but now we’re here, there doesn’t seem to be too much damage,” the 29- year-old said.

“There was talk that there might even be another hurricane coming through but you just have to try to keep that out of your head because it’s totally out of your control. But it’s definitely been different from a normal build-up. It is still quite windy but all you can do is deal with the conditions the best you can.”

Scrimgeour, who is originally from Kirriemuir but is now based in the south of England, will be competing in the men’s lightweight pair alongside Northern Irishman Joel Cassels. Scrimgeour has quite a pedigree in the event having won world championship bronze in 2013, 2014 and 2016, as well as becoming world champion in 2015.

The Scot suffered a blow last year though when, after a strong performance at the British trials, he still missed out on Olympic selection and travelled to Rio only as a reserve. However, after a prolonged break, he returned to the sport reinvigorated and chasing more silverware.

Scrimgeour admits this season has had its ups and downs but he remains optimistic that he and Cassels can produce their best performance of the year this week.

“We’ve had some good training leading into the World Championships so we’re hoping we can improve our form,” he said.

“Yes, you want to get a medal and you want to win it but all you can do is your best and so if that’s good enough to win the gold medal then great. I feel like our best is good enough to get on the podium and we do have quite a lot of experience behind us so hopefully we can use that.”

The British rowing team is consistently the most successful rowing nation in the world and the high-performance set-up is acknowledged as one of the most prolific across the globe in terms of producing world and Olympic medallists. While being a part of such a lauded regime is a privilege, Scrimgeour admits the team’s previous success brings with it considerable pressure.

“Being part of the British squad and knowing that a lot of the team will likely win medals does add a little bit of pressure,” he says. “But at the same time, it gives you confidence knowing that you’re part of this team.

“Most of the pressure I feel is self-inflicted, though. That’s similar for most of us I think and that’s probably why we’re here, because we’re always striving to be the best.”

Scrimgeour will be joined in the British team by 10 fellow Scots, including Olympic silver medallist Karen Bennett from Edinburgh who takes her seat in the eight alongside Katherine Douglas, while Rio Olympian Alan Sinclair and Callum McBrierty are in the men’s eight.

Completing the Scottish contingent is Melissa Wilson in the women’s pair, Angus Groom in the double scull, Gavin Horsburgh in the lightweight quadruple scull, Rowan McKellar in the four and Maddie Arlett and Robyn Hart-Winks in the lightweight quadruple scull, all of whom will make their senior World Championships debut this week.