March 19, 2008 News British Rowing NewsBritish Rowing EventsRowing CommunityGB Rowing TeamIndoor RowingRowing & RegattaPartners#YourStoriesArchive Kent Schools Indoor Rowing Championships 2008 Indoor Rowing 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. ADVERT 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 ADVERT