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North East Schools 'Get Rowing'

Keen young rowers were put through their paces at the inaugural ‘Get Going, Get Rowing’ North East Regional Schools Indoor Rowing Final, held at Maiden Castle, Durham University on 2^nd March, 2010. Heats had been held across the region since September with over 1200 pupils from 96 schools across different age groups taking part. The 192 finalists – 48 from each county of County Durham, Tees Valley, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland - competed on indoor rowing machines that are wired up to project their performances live on screen. The event was a great success. 

The event is a result of a partnership that has been established between Competition Managers, British Rowing SUNEE (Sport Universities North East England), Concept 2, the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and the North East Strategic Health Authority. 

Opening the event, Peter Warburton, Durham University Director of Sport said: 

“I was privileged to be at the original launch of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and I think if Tony Blair was here today he would be really proud of how far we have come together and what the Foundation has achieved in the region.” 

Jeanette Pickard, Chief Executive of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation said:  

“Get Going, Get Rowing is going from strength to strength in the North East. Indoor Rowing was one of the first sports to be supported by the Tony Blair Sports Foundation.  It is a modern sport that offers people of all ages and abilities the chance to adopt a healthy, active, lifestyle and has the capacity to provide a cohesive solution to health, education and fitness issues, primarily in schools but also in the wider community. Our work with developing the ‘Get Going Get Rowing’ programme helps to spread the sport and attract new coaches. It’s a great success story that we have been delighted to be involved with.” 

See the Northern Echo's report here. 

Photographs of the event can be viewed here.