Get Going, Get Rowing lands on Teesside

Schoolchildren in Middlesbrough came together on Friday 25 November for the inaugural Middlesbrough Schools Get Going, Get Rowing finals.

The event – organised by the Tony Blair Sports Foundation (TBSF) – invited pupils from Oakfields School, The Kings Academy, MacMillan Academy, and Trinity Catholic College to compete on indoor rowing machines at Teesside University.

‘Indoor rowing is good for working both your upper and lower body, it keeps me fit and I really enjoy it,’ said Callum, a competitor from Oakfields School.

Over 18,000 schoolchildren took part in the TBSF’s Get Going, Get Rowing indoor rowing competition last year, which involved 70 schools across the North East.

British Rowing and TBSF are working together to increase participation in indoor rowing across the North East, offering training for staff and students to provide coaching for local schoolchildren.

Fifteen Teesside student volunteers have been fully trained by British Rowing and TBSF so far, 12 of whom led Friday’s Get Going, Get Rowing finals.

‘When I was at school I never had the opportunity to take part in an event like this, so it is great for the kids and also for me as a volunteer,’ said Philippa, one of the Teesside students volunteering on Friday.

‘It gives me experience in working with children which will hopefully help prepare me for completing my PGCE in the future. I really got into the day and with the Tony Blair Sports Foundation it ran really smoothly’

The next Get Going, Get Rowing events in the North East will be held at Newcastle (December 5), Durham (Dec. 8), and Teesside (Dec. 13) universities.

If you are interested in volunteering at any of these events, contact the Tony Blair Sports Foundation.

For more information about Get Going, Get Rowing, see the official poster.