Kent Schools Indoor Rowing Championships 2008

The first indoor rowing county race in Kent was held on 28th
February 2008 at Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne.
The event saw over 370 children aged between 11 and 18 years
compete from 21 schools. The schools travelled from Dover,
Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge, the Isle of Sheppey, Medway and
Sittingbourne to race against each other.

Competitors raced in their year groups over various times and
distances in both individual and team categories. The Year 7 race
started the day off with Kieran Phillips from Dover Boys Grammar
School achieving a distance of 514 metres and Georgia Knight from
Maidstone Girls Grammar Schools rowing 484 metres in two minutes to
win their events.

There were a number of trophies handed out on the day. Kieran
Phillips from Dover Boys Grammar School won the Individual
Boy trophy for reaching a time closest to the Predicted
Gold Medal Time. Times were based on those results from the British
Indoor Rowing Championships in November 2007. The Individual Girl
title went to Amber Regardsoe from Highworth School in Ashford
who achieved a distance of 1016 metres in the Year 9 four
minute race.

In the other individual races there were some clean sweeps of
medals. Highworth School took 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Year 10 Girls
race. Benenden School took 1st – 4th in the Year 11 Girls.
Maidstone Grammar School just missed out on the 1, 2, 3 in the Year
11 Boys race which was won by Matt Delderfield from Oakwood
Park School. In the Year 12-13 Boys race Maidstone Grammar
School dominated achieving 1-4 and three of the athletes gaining
personal best times in the process.

The Team trophy based on overall average of placings in the team
races went to Oakwood Park Grammar School. The School trophy was
also awarded to Oakwood Park Grammar School from Maidstone.

Medals on the day were handed out by Di Ellis, Chairman of the
Amateur Rowing Association, Phil Simmons who rowed in the Men’s
Eight at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and local rower Alastair
Mckean, 2007 World Silver Medallist in the LTA 4- and Beijing
Paralympics hopeful from Herne Bay.

The first championships was a great success and the plan is to
continue to build on this for next year. Comments from
children and teachers taking part throughout confirmed that
everyone had had an exciting and enjoyable day.

Thanks for organising the event must be given to Swale Borough
Council for providing the venue, Sheppey and Sittingbourne School
Sport Partnership and Kent Competition Managers. Thank you to
all schools lending the machines and to Concept 2 for their
assistance on the day.

Full results available here (PDF).

Kate Beaumont

ARA Coaching & Development Officer

South East