West Region juniors impress at Indoor Champs

Monday 4th March saw 398 pupils from 38 schools and colleges converge on the University of St Mark & St John, Plymouth, for the West Regional Indoor Schools’ Rowing Competition. 2013 is the second year that this competition has incorporated the Devon School Games Level 3 event, and results from each category have been filtered to give overall placings as well as Devon-only results. 

Competitors in Years 7-11 rowed for a set time depending on their age group, while Years 12 and 13 rowed for 2,000m. As well as a position, rowers were given a score – a percentage based on how their final distance/time compared to the British Rowing ‘gold medal target’ for their age group.

Competitors used two dozen indoor rowing machines for the event, which were linked up to a big screen and kept supporters up to date with the results of each race throughout the day.

The standard of competition was very high, with most winners scoring more than 100 per cent of their gold medal target. The most impressive scores of the day came in the Year 10 and Years 12/13 Male races. Winning Year 10 pupil Charlie White, of Bideford College, scored a massive 105 per cent – rowing 1502m in 5 minutes. Charlie trains and rows at Bideford AAC, North Devon – which no doubt will have contributed towards his impressive performance. In the year 12/13 race, Daniel Alberichi rowed 2000m in a time of 6 minutes 35 seconds – a stunning 106 per cent of his target time. 

The standard of indoor rowing in the West Region is improving year on year, with competitors from Cornwall, Devon and South West Somerset bringing back ever more medals from the National Indoor Rowing Championships. Indoor rowing clubs are extremely popular at schools in the region, with some fantastic work being done by enthusiastic volunteer coaches from local clubs, and 6th form pupils. Indoor rowing often allows the less traditionally sporty school pupils come into their own, and such a high level of participation is great to see.

Exmouth Community College came away from the day with the majority of the team honours, winning the overall boys and overall school trophies. Devonport High School for Girls won the overall girls trophy and Plymstock School took the ‘Project Oarsome’ – most points for Year 7. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the relay races were unable to run.  

A big thanks to University of St Mark & St John for their hospitality on the day, to the West Region’s British Rowing coaching team, and to all the volunteers who helped to make the day such a success.

Male Female

Year 12/13
2000m

Daniel Alberichi (South Devon College)
6:35.2 – 106.28%

Imogen Mackie (Exeter College)
7.36.5 – 101%

Year 7
2 min

Ben Diston (Ridgeway)
523m – 102%

Lucy Harris (Exmouth)
496m – 101%

Year 8
3 min

George Allum (Exmouth)
829m – 102%

Charlotte Blake (Kingsbridge)
774m – 103%

Year 9
4 min

Andrew Wheeler (Exmouth)
1164m – 103%

Molly Mees (Budehaven)
1058m – 103%

Year 10
5 min

Charlie White (Bideford College)
1502m – 105%

Rebecca Butchart (Plymstock)
1300m – 101.9%

Year 11
6 min

Tom Worden (Mullion)
1737m – 100.9%

Chloe White (Truro School)
1521m – 98%

Rhiannon Halliday