Cheshire School Games enjoys nail-biting finish

More than 120 young indoor rowers gathered in Chester on Friday (14th March) to take part in the Cheshire School Games.

16 schools from across the County were represented, with athletes ranging in age from Year 9 to Year 11 battling each other over 4 minutes, 5 minutes and 6 minutes respectively.

Racing took place at the Small Hall at Chester University, with 10 Concept2 indoor rowing machines connected together to show virtual racing on the big screen.

Rowability races were also included in the event, with 24 pupils racing first in I minute seeding timetrials before racing in finals over 1 minute 30 seconds, 2 minutes or 2 minutes 30 seconds depending on their timetrial result.

The highlight of the day, as is often the case, proved to be the relay races – four athletes per team racing over 2016m at the end of the day. Two of the relays proved particularly competitive this year – the Year 11 Girls’ and Boys’ relays.

In the Boys’ event, the three teams – Lymm, Weaverham and Sandbach – swapped positions throughout the race. Excellent work in the changeovers made the difference for Lymm, though, who finally won out by 3 seconds over Weaverham and 7 seconds over Sandbach.

If we though the Boys’ race was close, the Girls’ event was even more of a nail-biter and totally unpredictable… In the end, Weaverham beat The Queen’s School by just 1.2 seconds, despite the last Weaverham student falling off her seat in the last 100m and having to row “arms and bodies only” in the sprint to the line.

Well done to all pupils, their schools, the Cheshire School Games Organisers – particularly Rachel Bannister, SGO for Sandbach, whose Year 10 leaders helped on the day – Sport Cheshire and Adam Norris who organised the event. Also to Chester University for hosting and providing the race machines.

For results and reports from the 2013/14 School Games, visit www.britishrowing.org/schools/school-games/school-games-2013.