Huge success as Blade Rowers launch new indoor rowing competition
Hear all about Blade Rowers’ new indoor rowing championship that aims to transform indoor rowing events in the UK
Credit: Jason Cobb
On 7th June, Blade Rowers Indoor Rowing Club hosted a new look indoor rowing competition. The Indoor Rowing Team Championship was not just another competition, but a step towards redefining how indoor rowing is experienced.
In a sport often dominated by solo effort, individual PBs, and elite-level wins, our aim was simple, create an event that brought people together, put teams at the heart of the action, and delivered an experience that celebrated everyone, not just the winners.
Blade Rowers believe that rowing is for everyone. Their goal was to build something with energy, engagement, and connection. A team event. A shared experience. Something different.
With 10 mixed teams of 4 athletes, the championship was structured around individual time races within a team framework.
British Rowing’s Head of Community Chris Farrell was delighted to see the event launched so successfully. “’It has been fantastic to see and support one of our oldest accredited Go Row Indoor Clubs delivering a brand-new indoor rowing event for both new and existing indoor rowers to participate in.
“The event even added a new twist to the sport, delivering a brand-new racing format, focusing on individual time races but achieving scores within a team framework. Most excitingly ensuring everyone who took part in a team had a final showdown. Creating a real inclusive event for all.
“Blade Rowers have shown how diverse the sport can be, specifically through indoor rowing, and how there are no limits to how rowing can continue to expand and create new rowing events, challenges and competitions to help more people using the machine to participate with one another.
“I am really looking forward to seeing what the future events look like as they help grow more people to the sport.”
Here’s how it worked:
Each team member took part in a timed race which was randomly selected ahead of the race. Timed so everyone started and finished together. Row hard for max distance.
Only 4 rowing machines were used at a time — creating head-to-head match races, where competitors could literally eyeball their opponents.
Scoring: 10 points for 1st place, down to 1 point for 10th. Win your heat? Your team earns a bonus point.
After 4 rounds, scores were tallied to set up the relay finals.
The top 4 teams advanced to the A Final, the next 3 to the B Final, and the remaining 3 to the C Final — ensuring every team had a final, and everyone took part in the team relay showdown.
The Relay Finale was a superb curtain call on the event. The teams of four raced over 3000m with a ‘Le Mans’ style sprint to get to the rowing machine. Racing culminated with the final rowing sprinting across the finish line to stop the clock at the end of racing. It was loud, intense, and incredible to watch.
The event welcomed a wide range of competitors from across the country to come and participate. Blade Rowers were joined by other indoor rowing teams, coastal rowing teams, local gyms, CrossFit athletes, as well as former indoor rowing world champions.
This event proved that indoor rowing can be a shared experience, and it can draw people together across backgrounds, abilities, and goals. Blade Rowers are already looking ahead to expanding the concept into a championship series with more events, more locations, and more opportunities for rowers to connect beyond the screen.
Blade Rowers aren’t just setting workouts and chasing splits. They are building a community. From monthly challenges to technical training, to gamified EXR app sessions, they keep it serious but fun, competitive but inclusive.
Feel inspired? Enter the British Rowing Championships today to test yourself against Blade Rowers and thousands more later this year.
