Berkshire Schools Indoor Rowing Championships 2009

The first Berkshire Schools Indoor Rowing Championships was held at the John Madejski Academy in Reading on the 28th April. The event had been postponed from the initial February date when schools across the county had to close due to the heavy snow.

The event, organised by the Berkshire Competition team and the ARA with the support of Concept 2 had entries from all eight school partnerships in the Berkshire School Sports Partnership scheme. Each school sport partnership entered teams of children from years 7 to 11 in either individual races or frantic relays. 

Teams for the individual races consisted of four girls and four boys with the scores of each individual contributing to the SSP winner by year group and gender. All of the children raced exceptionally well on the day and there were some very close contests. 

The Year 8 Girls race was won by Katie Metali, representing West Berkshire partnership, closely followed by Emily Beaumont from Charters partnership. Both girls achieved times which exceed the ARA Gold Medal target distance for their age group.

Maddy Dobson, who took the title in the Year 7 girls race for Charters, and Lewis Johnson, who won the Year 8 Boys race for Slough and Wexham, also passed the ARA target distances. The Bulmershe with Wokingham partnership had a good range of athletes in all year groups and consequently went on to win three titles. 

In the frantic relay events there was much cheering and excitement as a quick changeover between team mates proved to be the key to success. with teh success of this year’s event it is hoped that this event should now take place annually and the organising team are very keen that it grows and becomes a key indoor rowing competition for all the schools in the county.