UCP Marjon Sport West Region Schools Indoor Rowing Championships 2010
The College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth once again
hosted the West Region Schools Indoor Rowing Championships, on March 2nd
2010. The event, run in conjunction with British Rowing, the Plymouth Rowing
Forum and the Plymstock and Sir John Hunt School Sports Partnerships, was the
culmination of a regional series of competitions which started prior to
Christmas with SSP events, leading to County based events in January and
February, and finishing with the Regional Championships.
This years’ regional competition saw a change in format,
with schools required to enter on a team, rather than an individual basis. Each
team entered was made up of one pupil from each year group, year 7 to 11. Each
pupil taking part rowed in an individual race against other competitors from
their year group, with the number of metres rowed in their year group race
contributing to an overall team score. In addition the team of five rowed
together in team relay, which proved to be a noisy and exciting culmination to
the event.
The female team event was keenly contested, with Bruton
School from Somerset bringing five strong teams to the event, while 2009 winners
Devonport High School for Girls (DHSG) were keen to retain their title. Going
into the final team relay, Bruton, DHSG and Plymouth High School for Girls
(PHSG) were separated by a matter of metres. Bruton A managed a strong second
place finish in the relay, ahead of PHSG and DHSG, to give them to overall
female title.
In the men’s event the Plymouth schools also featured
strongly, with Plymstock and DHSB taking a win apiece and several top five
places in the individual races. However Torquay Boys Grammar School were close
behind going into the relay having won two individual events, including a new
championship record in the year 9 male race. The male relay proved to be a
stunning race, with DHSG overhauling leaders Plymstock on the final stroke to win
by a mere 0.3 seconds. Alas it wasn’t enough to go into the lead in the overall
male title, with Plymstock taking this ahead of DHSB, with Torquay Boys in
third.
In the overall event, it was consistency across all the male
and female events which proved the key, with 2008 winners Ridgeway taking the
title again, with Tavistock in 2nd and Looe School in 3rd.
Many thanks go to the event sponsors and the volunteers from
clubs and schools from around the region who supported the running of the
event. A number of competitors from schools taking part will now go on to
compete at the national Junior Indoor Rowing Championships, held in London on
March 16th.
British Rowing Team Leader – West Region
